GOD CAUSES INCREASE "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God GAVE THE INCREASE. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that GIVETH THE INCREASE. " (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) CATCHING MEN There is another form of spiritual increase that is refreshing to consider. How successful can we expect to be in proclaiming the Gospel to "every creature?" The truth of the matter is, we do not know. However, there is certainly room for the optimism of faith. Remember, we are "workers together with God" (1 Cor 3:9), and have "good news" to declare. Two Ways to Seek the Lost There are at least two ways believers can seek the lost. First, they can develop strategies to do so. Armed with statistics and surveys, and undergirded with the wisdom of men, they can seek to win the lost. That is the very way most contemporary efforts are implemented. Who would dare to attempt to number the books that have been written on the subject? I am quick to say, we will oppose no person who conscientiously attempts to bring men to the Savior. Those who develop strategies to accomplish the task will stand or fall before the Master. But we are under no obligation to learn from them when we can learn from Christ! -- Tomorrow:
"Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman," says the LORD. Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations, And they will resettle the desolate cities" (Isa 54:1-3, NASB).
How would this remarkable increase be accomplished? It was the Lord Himself who would bring it to pass. By saying "the sons of the desolate," the Holy Spirit emphasizes the impotency of flesh to accomplish these things. Without the blessing of the Lord, there is no alternative to spiritual impotence! It is the Lord who gives the increase. This prophecy declared the wideness of God's great salvation. It would extend throughout all the world, and affect the entire person of the saved. The people of God would no longer be the smallest of all nations, but would proliferate into "every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Rev 5:9). Truly, the "increase of God." The "knowledge of the Lord," it was foretold, would girdle the globe. "For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea" (Isa 11:9; Hab 2:14). If this sounds like a large promise to us, think how it must have sounded to the prophets of old!
God's salvation is a "great salvation" (Heb 2:3) from every perspective. If you view it from the standpoint of individual experience, it is "great." Considering its impact upon male and female, it is "great." Viewing it from the standpoint of men in bondage and free men, it is "great." This "great salvation" increased, bounding over walls of language, race, and culture. Like a mighty flood, it has expanded in our world over time and space--and the work is not finished!
In old time, the Spirit spoke of false prophets who would be influential. This language will be familiar to you. "For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they CATCH MEN" (Jer 5:26). Paul spoke of the same type of wicked snare when he wrote of "the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Eph 4:14, KJV).
The Lord Jesus lifted the catching of men to a heavenly level. He promised the disciples He would enable them to catch men--to compel them to embrace the truth. "And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, 'Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.' And Simon answered and said, 'Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets.' And when they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets began to break; and they signaled to their partners in the other boat, for them to come and help them. And they came, and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!' For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear, from now on you will be CATCHING MEN" (Luke 5:4-10, NASB).
The peculiar absence of "soul-winning" methodologies in the teaching of our Lord is arresting. He told His disciples they would "catch men," inferring that it would be in abundance like the catch of fish they had just experienced. Their nets were not filled with fish because they had followed good fishing techniques, or had studied the climate and environmental conditions! They were fishermen by trade, but that is not why they caught that particular net of fish. The increase was Divinely caused!
Jesus informs them they would be effective in their quest for the lost. He would not teach them a technique. He would not raise up "experts" in soul winning that would assist them in overcoming their crude background. Rather, just as He did with the catch of fish, He would show them where to cast their nets. He Himself would cause them to "catch men."
Do not miss what the Savior said to His disciples. He does not tell them they MAY catch men, or that this is a distinct possibility. He states "from now on you WILL BE catching men." The reason He could speak with such finality is simply this; "God gives the increase!"
A better way to reach humanity is to live so close to the Lord you are directable. Jesus commanded the Apostles to remain in Jerusalem until they were made adequate for their task (Luke 24:49). God would not only give the increase, He would make the laborers equal to the task of sowing and watering. Philip was led to speak to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8). Early believers were led to go into Macedonia (Acts 16:9ff). Paul was led to remain in Corinth (Acts 18:10). The body of Christ is ministered to by its Head (Col 2:19). One area of ministry is in the expansion of that body. When believers are added to the church, it is because God has given increase! He has caused the planted and watered seed to grow. Blessed are those that perceive this!
I do not believe it is possible to live by faith, walk in the Spirit, and fellowship the Son without becoming involved in catching men. Men have too long underestimated the effects of walking "in the light as He is in the light" (1 John 1:7). I have been exposed to a theology that views this text from Mount Sinai. It is perceived as a commandment to be obeyed, rather than a promise to be enjoyed. Thus, in the dark past, I did not associate this word with benefits, even though they are declared plainly. As it is written, "but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:9, NASB). Fellowship and cleansing are not ends of themselves. They are a means to an end. Spiritual fellowship provides an environment in which the Lord can and will work. Cleansing from sin qualifies us to work together with God. These benefits are evidenced in spiritual expansion, when God gives the increase.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Christ Jesus, who has apprehended me, I ask for grace to apprehend that for which I have been apprehended, and to catch men in the process.