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[0:00] I'm going to go to Luke chapter 5 if you've got your Bible. Luke chapter 5. And the context there is of the Lord delivering the word of God by the lake of Gennesaret.

[0:16] Luke chapter 5.

[0:46] Luke chapter 6.

[1:16] Luke chapter 6.

[1:46] Let us pray. Lord, we thank you for your word, for this gathering, for your precious truth. Lord, let it be such that it will be truth in action, that we can make application of it for your glory and praise. We ask in Jesus' precious name. Amen.

[2:02] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[2:13] Leave the shore.

[2:43] We could think of that in missionary terms, leaving the shores of Australia perhaps. For us to go fishing, we have to get the fishing boat wet and into the water, don't we?

[2:56] Get out. Leave the comfort of the shore. Stop lolling around on the beach, playing in the shallows. Some would say, let's play it safe.

[3:08] Don't step out of the comfort zone, they would say. And some ships are safely moored there at the dock, aren't they? They're neatly kept with polished brass and clean decks. They're reeked just right.

[3:19] The nets are neat and clean and mended, not used, not tangled. This ship is clean and swept. You can imagine it, this boat in the boat shed, as it were, sweet-smelling.

[3:32] No smelly fish there in this boat. No barnacles, no seaweed. It's a lovely, clean boat. A nice new coat of paint, not a scratch on it.

[3:45] It is weighed anchor. It is kept safely at the shore. Friends, it's easy for us, isn't it, as Christians, to be alike to that boat, safely at the shore, just that kind of boat, in the comfort zone.

[3:57] We can all find it easy to stay there. Easy to stay by the bank, to stay on the shoreline, to look out onto the water and enjoy the view, to put our feet up, read the paper or the phone these days, relax at the beach, enjoy the calm waters by the beach side, lapping the beach.

[4:20] Maybe you dabble your toes in the water or filled your sandcastles. Now, they're all nice things to do. Not saying that they're sinful or anything. But we can watch the tide and we can stay on the shoreline.

[4:31] That's the point I'm making here. We can think how, really, spiritually speaking, that as we can all be subject, I put to you I can be, that some believers would not care about those who are not saved.

[4:45] Why would we put ourselves out? Why would we get our boat wet? Why would we risk getting it scratched or barnacles and seaweed and smelly fish on it? And we can be like that as believers, can't we?

[4:56] That we don't push ourselves, that we don't want to leave the land. We don't want what might threaten our comfort. It might mean inconvenience for us when we think of missions, when we think of witnessing, when we think of reaching out to someone who could be hostile, who could reject us.

[5:13] It can mean inconvenience, can't it? And when we think of such a fishing picture, dare I say it, it could mean that dread, four-letter word, work.

[5:25] And this is what we must do, work. And if we are to be fishers, we must leave the land if we are to fish. I look back at my own life as a young couple.

[5:37] My wife and I applied to be missionaries. And we were a very young family of five. We had heard about an opportunity to go to the nation of Hungary with a missions organisation.

[5:48] And this was prior to me being part of the independent Baptist movement, where of course we send our own missionaries and we support our like-minded churches. That was where I was at that time in my life.

[6:00] And I heard of how there was some funding available to teach English in the local schools there. And we applied and we were accepted by the missions organisation. And we started to get ready, to learn the language.

[6:13] And we paid to get our teeth checked even, to get everything in order medically, because that's what the mission wanted of us, to make sure medically we were all ready to leave Australia to this foreign land.

[6:25] So we were willing to take the plunge, to jump into this whole new world as a missionary family. It came to light, however, that despite our willingness to sacrifice and support our own selves, there was money in the schools there to fund those who went to teach English.

[6:47] But the mission itself had some very significant extra requirements that were imposed on us, this US-based mission. And it required a very high level of support that we had to raise.

[7:01] Even though we felt we could have managed to support ourselves in Hungary from the local income and our own sacrifices, but the missionary organisation required that level and it was exceedingly high.

[7:15] It was some, you know, like a Western-type salary for some executive kind of level. Just beyond comprehension why they would require that, on top of what was supported through the mission.

[7:29] So at the end of the day, in fact, it ended up that it all fell through. And Julie and I were disappointed. Perhaps we could have tried another way to go to a mission some other way, some other way of teaching English in some other nation, in some other fashion.

[7:45] We could have perhaps tried some other way. But instead we launched out into local ministries. It was as if God closed the door for us despite our willingness. And he opened a new one.

[7:56] And I thank God really for the local missionary kind of work we do now. But I think the lesson learnt here is be willing. Be willing. And be willing to step off the beach.

[8:07] To leave the shore. To be willing. To get out. Get out. To put yourself out. And sadly, many are able but not willing.

[8:18] You know, we know that in local ministries. People are able but they're not willing for some reason. It's one of the heartaches of a pastor. People able but not willing. To lift a finger.

[8:29] And then we have some willing but not able. But at least when you think... I know Pastor Athle you could maybe identify as... It's in every church. People able but not willing.

[8:42] But then you've got people willing but not able. But at least with the ones willing but not able. If they are teachable, God can make them able. Amen. Because our ability is of God.

[8:54] Isn't it? For all of us. All of us. Be willing to get out. To leave the shore hugging Christianity. We can stay there. To leave there means taking a risk, doesn't it?

[9:08] To get out. But wait, there's more. Verse 4. Now when he had left speaking he said unto Simon. Launch out into the deep. And let down your nets for a draft.

[9:20] Our Lord tells Simon here. Not just to leave the shore. But to go deeper. To launch out deeper. Into the deep. To get out. But to go even further.

[9:32] To get deep. Deeper. Into the deep. To make a deliberate step. A daring step. Now we think of it for ourselves. Sometimes we think. I'll go so far.

[9:43] But no further. But God wants us to have a willingness to go into the deep. To launch out. Into the deep. And it takes people of courage. When you think of it. To go beyond the shallow waters. To go beyond the shallow waters.

[10:03] To go to the dangerous high seas. It could get rough and windy there. We might get wet and cold. Well we have to trust. The fish are out there though.

[10:15] Amen. The fish are out there. In the deep water. Go out. Be the church. Get out. I urge you. Brothers and sisters. Be willing to be vulnerable.

[10:27] To share the gospel with others. Now. We heard our pastor here. Give examples of some outreach. That is happening. Amen. I hope you were listening to that.

[10:39] Because sometimes the pastor can give the notices. Talk about outreach. And everybody zones out. Oh that's for those ones. That's for the keen ones. But no.

[10:50] It's for you. It's for everyone. Every believer. I know. There was one time. Julie and I visited a church in rural Victoria. And the whole church went out evangelizing. Mind you.

[11:00] It was only a church of about eight people or something. But the whole church went evangelizing. And I thought. Amen to that. Isn't it? That even at a whole church. Small in number. But the whole church went out.

[11:12] They got out. They get out. They launched out into the deep. Friends. And that's for all of us. To share the gospel. Isn't it? But only a few are willing. To get out.

[11:23] To go. Witnessing. To reach the lost. It's interesting. When you look at the word of God. That Christ met unbelievers. Where they were. According to one count. In the gospels.

[11:34] It records 132. 132. 132 contacts. That the Lord Jesus had with people. Six. Were in the temple. Four. In the synagogues.

[11:45] And the rest of them. 122. Contacts. With people. Were out. With the people. In the mainstream of life. Interesting thought. Isn't it? Six.

[11:56] In the temple. Four. In the synagogues. 122. Was Christ's contacts. With the mainstream people of life. Christ got out there. He got out. Out where the sinners are.

[12:07] And we have to get out. You're blessed with a soul winning pastor here. He's willing to go out. Onto the streets. Stand by the man of God. Go with the man of God. Stand with him.

[12:18] This is where your mission field starts. People. Amen. On Marion Road. That's where the mission field starts. Outside that front door. That doorstep. Outside the doorstep of your own home.

[12:31] At the doorstep of your church. The mission field starts. Doesn't it? And God will take you further. If he wills it. If he wills it. He'll take you further.

[12:41] Even into the deeper waters. Now it would be easier to do nothing. Or to do the least thing. For the church to be a respectable church. Just a snug holy club.

[12:53] Like that boat. Sitting in the boat shed. As it were. Not getting it scratched. Not getting it. Smelly or dirty. With catching. Actually catching fish. Some churches are like that.

[13:04] Aren't they? They are. It's a boat shed. And they polish that boat. And they keep it in the boat shed. It never goes out. And so. And we as Christians. Let's face it.

[13:14] Some of us Christians can be like that. Can't we? Content to be just having church. Just a comfortable church. In a comfortable place. We could be a church which is totally out of touch with the Christless ones.

[13:30] That would be easy. That would be the comfortable thing. And we could be a snobby self-satisfied church which frowns on people and shuns people because of our own opinions. We could turn away those who are hard to get through to.

[13:43] We might not like the look of them. Whatever it be. But God wants us to get out. To reach out. To launch out. Into the deep. And are we willing to leave the comfortable place?

[13:54] Are we willing to leave the shoreline if you like? Reach even those that are hard to get to. They might be deep waters. Friends. Are we willing to leave the comfortable place and make some sacrifice?

[14:08] The pioneer English missionary C.T. Studd said. Somewhat to live within the sound of church or chapel bell. I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell. Are we going to get out?

[14:20] Are we going to launch out into the deep? Do we want to be a church where the foulest can be made clean? A church where the lowest can be lifted? Where the sinner can be saved?

[14:31] Where the straying one can be cared for? Are we willing to launch out into the deepest, darkest jungles of heathen Adelaide? And beyond. And beyond. Can we reach the lost ones of this city?

[14:43] A city of churches? It used to be. To reach the neglected ones. The rejected ones. This is a rescue shop within a yard of hell.

[14:55] Isn't it? This is a hospital for sick souls. For the sick. The hurting. The troubled. The wounded. The weak. For the rough. The tough. The unlovely. The unloved.

[15:06] The tax collectors. The sinners. The social outcasts. The druggies. The pimps. The prostitutes. The alcoholics. The broken families. The street kids. This is the mission.

[15:18] And I don't mean to take away from world missions. Which I know is the theme. But sometimes we think the missionaries are the people we have cards on the wall from. But actually there's missionaries here.

[15:28] You've got a local missionary. Your pastor. There's a missionary here. The Lord Jesus sat amongst the people. And friends. We need to be like our Lord.

[15:41] The people query him. Why are you hanging around these sinful people? And he says yes these are sinners. These are the sick men. But where else would a doctor be? And it's the same for you and me isn't it?

[15:52] We've got the message of salvation. The sick need this message. The gospel. It's been said the only thing the majority of Christians in the west know of sacrifice is how to spell it.

[16:07] It means leaving the shore behind people. Leaving the shore behind. To get out into the mission field. And your mission field starts now. You are in training. Right now.

[16:18] This is the missionary training body. The church. Isn't it? And this is the mission organisation. The church. The local church. And hopefully local churches encouraging one another.

[16:30] Can get behind. Get out as a fisher of men. Into the deep waters. The challenging waters. So number one. Get out. Number two. Get in.

[16:41] Get the fish in. We've got to get the net out. And get the fish in. That's what happens when you go fishing. With God. As results.

[16:51] Obey. And expect God to work. As you witness. Get the fish in. Get them in. Get the lost in. In other words. Take a deliberate action.

[17:02] To get the gospel. And share it. Verse four. Let down. Your nets for. A draft. Act upon his word. He says let down your nets. Trust him to work.

[17:14] Friends. Faith does not take. The easy way. It's willing to. Brave the hardships. And setbacks. Logically speaking. In this occasion.

[17:26] It was not going to work. Some would say. Let's not take the risk. It's too hard. Some would say. That the workers. Are too tired.

[17:37] Simon Peter himself. In Luke five. He was dog tired. I know that some could identify with that. They've been up all night. They've been up late. Burning the midnight oil. He'd. He'd. He'd been up all night.

[17:47] Fishing. Working. With no results. Nothing to show for it. And he knew this was the wrong time of day. To go fishing. And he didn't feel like it.

[18:00] He didn't think it would work. But Christ gave the command. Let down your nets. Let down your nets. Verse five. Master we've toiled all the night.

[18:11] And have taken nothing. Nevertheless at thy word. I will let down the net. All we can do is obey. As we reach out. That many will. Will reject the message.

[18:22] But. We have. A need to pass on. The message. Some will not see. Some will want to head down. And not turn from their destructive path. We will be hated.

[18:34] And ridiculed. Maybe. Some will curse you. When you try to give them the gospel. We've had that. People curse you. And hate you. You try to tell them about Jesus. Some people hate that.

[18:45] There's a spirit in there. As it were. This saving gospel message. Is the most precious thing. We can tell them. But they spurn it. It would be easier to not even bother. Wouldn't it? It would be easier not to even try.

[18:58] But we can only warn the hell bound. Sinners. The Christless ones. We can only try to reach them. Failing that. There'll be blood on our hands. The blood of those we've neglected to tell.

[19:13] Of course. We've got to be careful how you take that reference. But there's a sense of it. There's a responsibility. Clearly a responsibility. And it's our responsibility. Our feelings may say no.

[19:25] Like Simon Peter. It's ridiculous. Master. We've told all night. We've taken nothing. There's nothing out there. This is the wrong time of day. Nevertheless.

[19:37] At thy word. I will let down the net. Here a professional fisherman. Taking advice from a carpenter. Turned preacher. Fishing was their business.

[19:47] They knew this. By faith. Simon surrenders. To the Lord's word. He surrenders all that he knows. All that he's experienced. Then lets down the nets.

[19:57] They were tired. But willing to do their part. They were discouraged. We can get like that. As believers. Where it seems hard. But we must obey the master. He calls us to go fishing.

[20:10] And so be a witness today. Think of that. Open your mouth. And be used of God. To give the gospel. As someone put it. A good witness is like a signpost. It doesn't matter whether the signpost.

[20:22] Is old. Young. Pretty. Ugly. It has to point the right direction. That's the point. Has to be able to be understood. We can do that can't we?

[20:32] Every one of us can be such a witness. Verse 6. They obeyed God and God worked. Verse 6. And when they had this done. They enclosed a great multitude of fishes.

[20:43] And their net brain. Friends. When we do what God says. He may surprise us. Amen. God can surprise us. And we need to just have the thought.

[20:54] That we're on a fishing boat. Not a cruise ship. It's not a boat in the boat shed. Never used. And just polished. And admired. It's a fishing boat. That's what we are.

[21:04] That's the church. That's the people of God. We're not a cruise ship. Where the goal is leisure. Sit back and receive. We're a fishing boat. It means work. We've all got a part to play.

[21:16] To give out. To get in the fishing business. To get out. And to get in. Get in the fish. So get out. Leave the comforts of land. Get out into the deep. Secondly.

[21:28] Get in. Get the fish in. With the net. Bring them in. Thirdly. Get together. Verse 7. We see that they. Get together. Verse 7. And they beckoned unto their partners.

[21:38] Which were in the other ship. That they would come. And help them. And they came. And filled both the ships. So that they began. To sing. So they signaled for the other.

[21:50] Ships. To come. And help them. That's what we're doing here tonight. A missions conference. Local churches. Across the state. Of South Australia.

[22:01] Getting together. Helping one another. It's a team effort. Missions. Isn't it? We're partners. We're partners together. They beckoned unto their partners. This was a team effort. That's missions. And we can join the fishing effort.

[22:13] As God fearing churches. And people. Working together. That's what it's about. This is not a solo mission. We can encourage. And help one another. Support one another.

[22:24] We want others to join in. We want others to learn. To partner with us. That's why Pastor Athol. Has encouraged this joint effort. From other churches. We're glad to be a part. Of that. We're independent churches.

[22:35] But we've got the same heart. The same goal. The same mission. To save souls. So will you join the effort? Get together. Where are the brave shipmates? Who will help.

[22:46] Take to the waves. To land support. To back us up. Will you join the crew? It's easy. You know. Sometimes there's churches. To nitpick and fiddle.

[22:57] To stand on the shore. And argue about the shape of the boat. What colour is it? What style is it? What kind of accessories should this boat have? How should we roll it?

[23:08] Who's going to steer this vessel? What type of net do we prefer? What about the technicalities of navigation or seamanship? Maybe the special licences. We need to have people qualified.

[23:19] To undertake these responsibilities of this journey. And meantime the opportunity is passing us by. Isn't it? We can spend so much time fiddling around and not going fishing.

[23:33] While we delay, we're disobeying the master. Let's combine our efforts as God-fearing Bible-believing churches.

[23:44] A combined effort of hearts and minds. Striving together. He called them. He beckoned unto the partners. Come and help us. It's a joint effort. Let us work together as partners in this mission.

[23:59] Co-workers in this essential mission. It's the same mission. We all have that heart. And we all have largely the same faces on the walls on our cards, don't we? The people that we know, these are fair dinkum men and women of God that need some support.

[24:15] And so we're part of that. God helping us. It's like in Philippians 127 it reads, But you stand fast in one spirit, striving together for the faith of the gospel.

[24:26] With one mind, striving together. There's that brotherly love and devotion that we're a family of God together, aren't we? And we're striving together in the gospel.

[24:36] There's a brotherly togetherness because we have the same love, the same heart. Be a partner. Be a helper. As we've heard the need here tonight as our brother from South Africa has ministered to us.

[24:51] I know personally what it's like where there's a lack of help in starting a ministry. What it's like to stand alone without much real help from anyone.

[25:01] I know when we started our fellowship, we got some help from Northside. We got some chairs. And that was it. There was no help from anyone. No tangible help.

[25:12] Even though there were funds that could have been used for a pioneer work. We never got any help. And I'm not complaining about that. Because sometimes we've got to stand on our own two feet.

[25:26] But where we can help, let's help. Especially with pioneer works, with fledgling works, with church planting. They're starting from nothing. There's much sacrifice. What of your pastor here?

[25:38] Be a helper. And to fish we must get out. Leave the shore. Get the fish in. And get together. And fourth point, get right. Verse 8.

[25:49] When Simon Peter saw this, he saw the miracle. It says he fell down at Jesus' feet. Saying, depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord. He was astonished.

[26:00] Peter humbled himself. He humbled himself. He recognised his own humility. His own unworthiness. He fell down at Jesus' knees. Verse 8. Peter didn't take credit for the success.

[26:12] And it's the same for us. Peter acknowledged Christ did that marvellous work of the taking of the fish. Will we be like Peter?

[26:25] Tell the Lord you need him. Acknowledge your own unworthiness. I'm not worthy that there should be such blessing. I'm not worthy to be used of God.

[26:37] And that's just the place we need to be to get right. To get right. There was a one-legged school teacher from Scotland who came to Hudson Taylor to offer himself to service in China.

[26:51] And here he was, a one-legged man. Taylor said, with only one leg, why do you think of going as a missionary? And this man, George Scott, said, I do not see those with two legs going.

[27:06] And he was accepted. We might think of all the reasons why not, can't we? Be willing. The willingness makes all the difference.

[27:16] Amen. Some other quote here. Isn't that true? Simon Peter.

[27:28] Peter forsook all and followed the Lord. There was no delay. Can we be a fisher of men? Can we see the Christless ones? They're just outside the door here.

[27:38] Can we see the wonderful opportunity we have to share the gospel good news? That awful shame of neglected opportunity. We must get out of our shore-bound Christianity.

[27:51] Don't confine yourself to the shore. Get out. Set a course where God burdens you to the deep waters.

[28:01] As God would steer you. As your pilot. As your captain of your vessel. We must get in the fish. Gather in those who will be saved. And it starts now. It starts here. It starts Friday night.

[28:14] We must get together. Support one another. Pray for one another. Be mindful there's need for help. To support. To help those on the field. To share the load.

[28:26] There's tangible needs. As we heard expressed earlier tonight. Uphold and encourage one another. Get together. Have that heart to be a partner. A helper. And get right.

[28:37] The fish came not by wisdom of man. Not by Peter's wisdom. But by the Lord's direction. And let us be like Peter. Humble.

[28:47] At his feet. Stay close to him. And heed his command. Friends. None of us are worthy. We must be like Peter. Get right. Come to Jesus. On your knees.

[28:58] And humble yourself. To heed the master's call. To be willing. To go out and fish. So how do we make application of this today.

[29:08] This fishing lesson. If you like. And if you bear with me. I know. It's almost a second sermon. But I'm going to keep it short. Can we ask. What is God's direction for my life.

[29:19] And I put to you. Really. You've had your fishing lesson for the day. Now for your hearing test. Your hearing test. In Australia. We know. It's possible to get a free hearing test.

[29:31] Under Medicare. So if you've got trouble with your hearing. Friends. You can go down to the local. Whoever does it. And they can test you. And they can tell you. What's wrong with your hearing. But I urge you today.

[29:43] To check your hearing. Spiritually. Spiritually. Right. Will you hear the word of the Lord. Will you hear him. His call. And we'll go to Acts 16 for that. Really just again.

[29:54] Another kind of mini message. From this different text. Telling of Paul now. In Acts 16. From verse 9. Through 10. Let's consider an application.

[30:05] Of this message. Through. This reference now. Acts 16. Verse 9. It tells of Paul. And he had a vision.

[30:15] It says. And a vision appeared to Paul. In the night. There stood a man of Macedonia. And prayed him. Saying. Come over into Macedonia. And help us. And after he had seen the vision.

[30:28] Immediately. We endeavour to go into Macedonia. Assuredly gathering. That the Lord had called us. To preach the gospel. Unto them. So Paul was here. He was struggling. I suppose.

[30:39] In a sense. To find the will of God. The Lord gave him. A vision. In the night. And he heard a couple of things. I'll put to you. Number one. He heard a call for help. There's a need.

[30:51] We've heard of one need here tonight. Our brother in South Africa. There's a need. A call for help. People are calling us. Crying out. Help us. This was a vision. But it was a real man.

[31:03] Calling out. Come over. And help us. Their cries are ringing still. They're still calling. The Macedonians. Amen. The Macedonian call.

[31:14] They're still going out. There's passionate appeal. Help us. Come over. And help us. This man looked different. He was from a different culture. Another country. The need was urgent.

[31:25] Pressing. A heart wrenching need. And they cry out still. They cry out still. Their soul aches. Their spirit grieves. The inner man cries out. For an answer. A deep felt need.

[31:37] Within them. What a privilege to be one. Called on. To be called out to. By such a one. Now it's easy for us to say. Oh yeah.

[31:48] I heard them calling out. Let someone else. Answer the call. Verse 9. Come over into Macedonia. And help us.

[31:59] Responding to this call meant. For Paul. He'd have to put himself out. He'd have to travel. It meant travel. Trials. He'd face beating. And bruising. Prison. Privation.

[32:10] For Christ. What about us? Do we hear him? Hear them calling? What about us? Will we put ourselves out? As we talked about.

[32:20] Launch out. Into the deep. Will we go that extra mile for Christ? Will we go the distance? How far did God go for us? From heaven's height. To the lowest of low.

[32:31] Are we willing to be a living sacrifice? To put our lives on the line? To put our own desires aside? To give up our own wants and comforts? Comforts. That another can be reached.

[32:44] To give and keep on giving. To be willing to help. To be big hearted. This call again was the call for help.

[32:55] Number one. But more than responding to a man. A call for help. I put to you. It was also. Verse 10. The call of God. It's the call of God.

[33:05] Verse 10. Immediately we endeavoured to go. Gathering that the Lord had called us. We can hear a human call. We can know there's human needs. We know of countries and mission fields.

[33:17] Crying out for labourers. We know even in Australia. There's churches without pastors. There's independent Baptist churches. That don't have pastors in this nation. There's a need even in this land.

[33:28] The call goes out. Come over and help us. There's a call for help. Number one. Secondly. There's a call of God. If we have the heart to hear. If God prompts us such. That those calls can be the call of God.

[33:41] Through their voice. We hear the call of God. We gather that the Lord has called us. Interesting that they understood the need expressed. This call for help was the Lord's leading. And Paul could see it was God calling them.

[33:53] Through the voice of the crying one. God was speaking to them. Through the call of this man. They sensed the very call of God himself. Now sometimes we don't. Always grasp it.

[34:06] We dilly dally. That there's a need. But we think someone else will respond. Notice they did so immediately. Notice that verse 10. Immediately.

[34:18] They didn't. Waste time. Immediately. It says. We endeavour to go. Immediately. He went to Philippi. The first city.

[34:29] That he could get to. In Macedonia. And we've seen that's in verses 11 through 12. Paul answered the call. He went along with Silas and Luke. To Philippi. So immediately.

[34:40] He gathered. Immediately. That the Lord. Had called. And immediately. He went to Philippi. And at Philippi. Paul preached the gospel. To a gathering of a few women.

[34:51] Verse 13. Then verse 14. We see Lydia. Heard his word. Heeded his word. And the Lord. Opened her heart. Later we see. The conversion of the jailer. So the gospel net was filled.

[35:03] It was filling. And. Why? Because they. Acted. On God's prompting. Are we quick to take action. Or must we be prompted.

[35:15] The gospel net. Must be filled. Will we see the need. Will we hear the call. The call for help. The cry for help. And the call of God. They're together. They're one and the same. When we step up.

[35:26] To serve. We'll be like Jonah. Perhaps. And we'll say no. Don't be a Jonah. He eventually went.

[35:37] Let's not wait until a second time. Let's go the first time. God calls. Amen. Will we pick and choose. What need we will respond to. Or will we actually. Step forward.

[35:49] And say. Count me in. To get the job done. Will we be a servant. Be willing to serve. Or will we choose to please ourselves. It's my own comfort.

[35:59] I'm going to put first. It's easy to be like that. Isn't it? Or we think. Maybe. We'll just wait. Maybe till it's perhaps more convenient. I've got some things to do.

[36:09] I've got. Some. Plans. I'd have to put them on the shelf. I'd have to put my own comforts. And my own plans aside. Maybe wait till it's a more comfortable time for me.

[36:21] How long will we wait? Friends. Maybe we'll wait so long. That it's sadly too late. Isn't it good to see that they acted immediately.

[36:34] Promptly. Instantly. Does the Holy Spirit have. A hold of our heartstrings. Is he tugging at our heart. Prompting us. Provoking us.

[36:45] Or will you resist. Or will you take action. Isaiah 6.8. That familiar one. Isaiah hears the Lord.

[36:56] Whom shall I send. And who will go for us. Then said I. Here am I. Send me. Come over and help us. Can't you hear them. Their desperate cry.

[37:08] There's needs. And. Orden we to be. Willing. To respond. And respond immediately. Can you hear the Macedonians today.

[37:19] Will you reach out to the people. Beyond. Outside of your comfort zone. Might be the people you find hard to witness to. Even. In the local scene. Isn't it. The ones who are hard to.

[37:30] Talk to. The ones that might mean. Actually I'm going to. Have to discomfort myself. And. Rub shoulders with people. That I. Don't want to be. With.

[37:43] Reach out. Dare to venture out. Launch out. Friday night. I'm sure you'll all be there. We know there's different reasons. Why. Some can't. But. The thought is.

[37:53] If there is an opportunity. To reach out. Seize it. Take the opportunity. Be there. Support the man of God. Support the work of God. Be willing to go.

[38:06] Even. If it's scary for you. I think it's scary for me still. It's. I think it is. Isn't it. As an. As an old Christian. It's still hard. As an old time Christian.

[38:17] It's still hard. It'd be easy to be a Jonah. It'd be easy just to ignore. To say. Someone else will help the Macedonians. Someone else will help their. Desperate plea. Or will we hear.

[38:29] Their call. Will we hear the call of God. That he is sending us. Sometimes it's a. Still. Small voice. And. We've just got to tune in. Tune out. Everything else.

[38:39] And tune in. To that still. Small voice. He urges us to go. He calls us still. It's a harvest. And the harvest is great. And the laborers are still few. Pray ye.

[38:50] Therefore. The Lord of the harvest. That he will send forth. Laborers into. His harvest. He is the Lord of the harvest still. And laborers are needed still. And there's one thing about God's call to mission.

[39:01] Notice what he says. In Acts 1. Verse 8. That familiar passage. Where it's telling them. To wait. To tarry. In Jerusalem. But you shall receive power. After that the Holy Ghost has come upon you.

[39:14] And you shall be witnesses unto me. Both in Jerusalem. And in all Judea. And in Samaria. And unto the uttermost parts. Of the earth. I love how it includes.

[39:26] Really a broad scope. Of places. Doesn't it? And. I want to. Urge you tonight. As we have this theme of missions. We can. Sometimes think. Oh. Someone will answer the call.

[39:38] Someone will. Surrender. To. To go to the mission field. And. And we'd love that. But wouldn't it be great. If the whole church. Had the heart for mission. The heart for mission. And to have the heart.

[39:49] Of our Lord's call here. It starts at Jerusalem. Can you see that? I love how it says. That it starts in Jerusalem. So we can be a part of the missionary effort.

[40:01] Right here. Right now. Starting now. Immediately. Right where you are. Start preparing. Your missionary training starts here. Right here. Right now. Because this is your Jerusalem.

[40:14] The mission field. Includes Jerusalem. So. The point I'm trying to make is. If you think of it. It's right here. Right now. Where you are. Where you live. Adelaide.

[40:25] Is the start of your mission field. Isn't it? Sometimes we think. Missionaries are all about. People in other places. In other countries. And yes. That is true. But for us.

[40:36] Who may not. Necessarily leave Australia. Start in your Jerusalem. Adelaide. This is the starting point. So. The mission starts.

[40:46] At your church doorstep. Right here. Right here. Right now. Tonight. Let's pray. Our God and King. We thank you. Our great Lord. We know your word.

[40:58] Is full of these truths. Of challenge. Lord. We think of. Peter and the. Folk in the boat there. Lord. They got out. Into that water. They got out.

[41:08] They launched out. Into the deep. They got the nets in. Then they got the fish in. Lord. And we see. They got together. They helped one another. And then Peter got right. He fell at your knees.

[41:19] He fell down before you. And he acknowledged his need. He humbled himself. Lord. That's all that any one of us can do. Is humble ourselves. And say. Lord. I'm not worthy.

[41:30] I'm not fit. I'm not able. But yet. Lord. You are able. To use. The least. Of us. To do something. For your glory. And it will all be to your praise.

[41:41] When we see the net breaking. And we'll wonder. We'll be surprised. How could it be. That you could even use. Such as we. For such a task. Such a great mission.

[41:53] Well. We pray for this church. For every folk. Here. And watching. From afar. Lord. We'll have that heart for mission. We'll think of our Jerusalem. Right here. Right now. And we'll think of Jerusalem.

[42:04] Judea. Samaria. And the uttermost parts of the earth. That Lord. We won't ignore our Jerusalem. Because our mission starts here. Right now. We pray that each one might have. That certainty.

[42:16] Of salvation. To know. Your saving grace. And Lord. That we'll know. Your great. Salvation gift. Imparted. Because. Of your blood shed. At the cross.

[42:26] On our part. And Lord. What a mission. What a. What a story to tell to the nations. What a gospel. What a glad. Good news message. That we have to tell. Sinners far and wide.

[42:38] Of such a saviour. Lord. We thank you for that. Help us Lord. To hear. The Macedonian call. Today. As it were. Of those crying out for need. In need. In places distant.

[42:51] And. Perhaps close to. Where there's need. To hear the call. The cry for help. Lord. And also to hear the call. Your call. And that we'll. Sense it. We'll know it.

[43:01] It'll be a sure thing. That we'll know your call. You'll confirm it to us. What your call is. Where you're sending us. And we'll be. Quick to. Respond. To say.

[43:12] Yes Lord. Send me. Here am I. Thank you Lord. For every. Soul gathered. And for this blessed. Family of God. Right here. For this mission station.

[43:23]  Lord. Extend its borders. And help us to be. Active. Missionaries. For your glory. In Jesus. Precious name. Amen.