CAST THE NET THAT JESUS GAVE TO YOU

Carmine Azzato︱Hitting The Pavement ︱May 17, 2022

If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it! I’m sure that most people have heard this saying at least once during their lifetime. How about your mind is a terrible thing to waste? I’m sure you heard that saying a time or two. Both examples although they sound different, they convey the same message. What you don’t use will eventually begin deteriorating or it’ll even go missing. That’s why a person is never too old to learn. The process of learning something new or unfamiliar is a mind strengthening technique.

The Bible tells us not to behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards. In the book of Romans chapter 12 verse 2 in the New King James Version it says: ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. I love how this scripture emphasizes the words good, acceptable, and perfect. Think about this, you and I were made perfect in Gods very own image and likeness.

God made no mistakes when He created us all. The Bible goes on to tell us that we were fearfully and wonderfully made in Gods image as well. So, recently I took our vehicle to the dealer’s service department to get it serviced. The vehicle from the outside still looked new and ran well. But when the technician began to do the vehicles safety inspection, that’s when the truth was revealed. From the outside everything looked good, but when the covers were removed, the results showed otherwise.

The concept of the vehicle is not much different than your physical body. When you use what you have been given, you’re required to do the maintenance. If the maintenance is ignored, the parts will break and worse than that, the engine will eventually cease. The same goes for vehicles that sit and are not used often. Rust begins to build up, the tires begin to deflate and flatten. All these results are more evident when you try moving it again. Just like trying to get your life moving in the right direction.

SATAN’S ALWAYS TRYING TO CONTAMINATE WHAT GOD CREATED

Do you recall seeing a television commercial in the 80’s that was promoting a drug free America? The caption read; This Is Your Brain… This Is Your Brain On Drugs! The commercial showed an egg fresh out of the carton, that perfect egg resembled your brain. Then the egg was cracked open and dropped it into a hot skillet. That resulted in the egg beginning to sizzle, then eventually the egg burned. All to show the viewer the effects that drugs have on the brain.

Anything at its purest form remains pure until it’s altered in any way. The moment substitutes are added to anything to replace or enhance the original design, that then voids the guarantee. Sweetener is the greatest example when it comes to substitutes side effects. We become so focused at times to keep our calories down so that we can maintain a certain outward appearance. We fail to realize the harm we’re doing on the inside of our bodies because of all the negative effects that the substitutes are doing to us.

I’m not saying that substitute sugars for our food and aftermarket replacement parts for our vehicles are from Satan. I’m just using these analogies so that we can grasp the importance of how God intricately and uniquely designed each of us. This being the reason that Satan hates us so much because he desired to Be God, let alone have any resemblance of God as we do. So, Satan spends every day seeking to steal, kill and destroy you and I. Therefore, we need to continually reach and catch others.

So many people out in world have fallen into traps that the world has gotten them entangled them in. Anyone that knows Jesus intimately, especially those that has been saved from Hell and Satan’s wrath understands what I’m saying. Before receiving Jesus Christ, we have all been contaminated in some respect by the world system. We have all fallen short somewhere along our life’s journey. But all the while God was with us through each storm. God continues to wait patiently for us to acknowledge and return to Him so that He could fully restore us.

MULTI LEVEL MARKETNG, GOOD OR BAD

Each of us have been given a sphere of influence. Some of us have been given a larger sphere than others. Keep this in mind that our personal spheres of influence will change in size during our lives. Every moment of our life as we step into new seasons, our social influence changes as well. Think about the community you live in, the relationships that you’re tied to and the place of employment that you go to every day. The point is the amount of people you cross paths with from day to day cannot be precisely counted.

Nevertheless, there’s an opportunity waiting for you at arm’s reach. The bottom line is it only takes one to reach one that can potentially reach thousands of other people. Every multi-level marketing company survives and thrives on this principle; just find the one! The survival of any of these companies is to get a select group of people to talk to more people. If they believe in a product enough, then hopefully they’ll be excited to talk about it to others.

When the numbers are crunched and you speak to many, you will ultimately be led to the one that’ll catch fire. This same principle goes for unashamed and on fire Christians. Those that have an unrestrained ability to spread the Gospel wherever they go. Just telling people about what Jesus has done for them, then there’s nothing to sell. It’s allowing people to find hope within their own stories and wanting what you have.

Jesus was the first and most successful multi-level marketer. Jesus had gathered 12 which eventually spread to billions over the course of two thousand years. The only difference was that Jesus wasn’t selling a gimmick or a product that would eventually loose it’s purchasing power. Jesus was offering a free giveaway, a gift that would purchase eternity for all that received Him.

THE BAIT ON THE HOOK OF EVANGELISM

God can use anything and anyone to further His Kingdom. God is just looking for a people that want to further His Kingdom and not their own personal agendas and platforms. The only bait that should ever be attached to your “hook of evangelism” is perfect love. Not the Philadelphia kind of brotherly love, Jesus is looking for the agape love. There’s a huge difference between these two loves, that’s why Jesus had to ask Peter three times if Peter loved Him.

John 21:15-19 The Message ¹⁵ After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you.” Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.” ^17-19 Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I’m telling you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you’ll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, “Follow me.”

During the past two years everyone has lost something. Some people have lost a lot and a lot of people have lost it all. The Devil wants you to believe that it’s only a matter of time before the worst happens to you. But today can be the day that you will never be the victim again. Today can be the day that your life gets completely turned around. There’s nothing that the world can offer you that Jesus Himself hasn’t already purchased for you.

Once you understand that every good thing in your life is from Jesus then you will understand how those good things become your bait on your hook. Unfortunately, a large majority of Christians have been taught that we should have as little as possible. Many have been taught that they should live this life with a poverty mentality. Just remember this, to whom much is given, much is required. Therefore, God wants to bless you with more, He just wants to see how you are handling what He’s already given to you.

NOW CAST THAT NET AND WATCH JESUS FILL IT

You’ve been given a net to cast, now cast it! Trusting Jesus means no more excuses, no more regrets, no more over thinking, and no more worries! It means that we agree to trust Him and His ability more than trusting ourselves and our own ability. Today you will toil no more, you will no longer beat yourself up. Today you must try your hardest to move in obedience and let the net or the hook fall where it may. Jesus is the one that draws the lost unto Him, you must be willing to say yes and go.

Luke 5:4-11 Common English Bible ⁴ When Jesus finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.” ⁶ So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. ⁷ They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. ⁸ When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” ⁹ Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. ¹⁰ James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” ¹¹ As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.

When Jesus told me almost a year ago that “I have given you a net, now go cast it”. At the same time Jesus told my wife “This season that you are in has come to an end”. After my wife and I discussed what Jesus had said to each of us, we decided to go not knowing how this would work, but we obeyed Jesus.

Jesus will do the unexpected if you let Him. Jesus will do the unimaginable if you allow Him to. Jesus is always waiting on us to say yes and Amen. Casting your net has nothing to do with taking risk, it has everything to do with being obedient!

Thank you for reading this Blog, I hope it blesses and encourages you!!

Carmine Azzato