“How broad and extended the command is, ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world’! What honor is here conferred upon man, and yet how large a number hug the shore! How few will launch out into the deep, and let down their nets for a draught! Now, if this is done, if men are laborers together with God, if men are called to act in city missions, and to meet all classes of minds, there should be special preparations for this kind of work.”–Review and Herald, June 21, 1887.
“Brethren, pull away from the shore, launch out into the deep, and cast the gospel net again. In this important period of the work, ministers cannot be detained to prop up men and women who see and have once felt the force of the truth. They should fasten believing Christians to Christ, who is able to hold them up and preserve them blameless unto his appearing, while they go forth to new fields of labor.” –Gospel Workers, p. 273
Fishers of Men Need the Divine Presence
“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. . . . And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” Luke 5:4-6.
“Everyone who in living faith follows Jesus, with an eye single to His glory, will see the salvation of God just as surely as these discouraged, despondent fishermen saw their boats filled by the miraculous draught. It was because Christ was in the ship that they were successful in their efforts to catch fish. The indwelling presence of the Saviour is equally necessary in the work of winning souls.” Reflecting Christ, p. 237
“In order to save humanity, Christ, the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, laid aside His kingly crown and royal robe, clothed His divinity with humanity, and came to this earth as our Redeemer. For thirty-three years He lived the life of a man among men, meeting the temptations that we must meet, and overcoming through the strength imparted from above. His divinity was not manifested in any display of pomp and royal power. He could have surrounded Himself with legions of heavenly angels, thereby inducing everyone to believe on Him; but this would not have been in accordance with God’s purpose.” –Reflecting Christ, p. 237
“Christ came to stand at the head of humanity, and to demonstrate that through the power of the Holy Spirit it is possible for man to withstand Satan’s temptations. With his long human arm the Saviour encircled humanity, while with His divine arm He grasped the throne of the Infinite.” –Reflecting Christ, p. 237
“We may endeavor to meet the enemy’s temptations in our own strength, doing the best we can to overcome; but we shall meet with disappointment after disappointment. This was the condition in which Christ found the disciples, after their night of unrewarded toil. They were annoyed and perplexed. Directing them to “launch out into the deep,” Christ said, ‘Let down your nets for a draught.’” –Reflecting Christ, p. 237
“Long had the fishermen toiled that night; often had they been disappointed in their expectations, as time and again the net was drawn up empty. When the Divine Presence was with them, and they, at His bidding, once more cast their net into the sea, what an abundance they gathered in! They were unprepared to handle so large a draught. . . . The sight of the miraculous draught of fish swept away the unbelief of the Galilean fishermen, and they were ready to respond to Christ’s invitation to follow Him, and to learn to be fishers of men. . . . However long and faithfully we may toil in our human strength, we can hope for no real results; but as soon as we welcome Christ into the heart, He will work with and through us, to the salvation of souls.” –Reflecting Christ, p. 237
Let Down Your Net
“Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” Luke 5:10.
“Jesus asks the use of Simon’s boat. Although weary with his toil and disappointment, Simon cheerfully complies with the request of Christ. The unpretentious fishing boat is made the pulpit from which come forth the words of Christ. Surely the little craft of Simon’s was never so honored as on this occasion. It had never been put to so profitable use by its owner. Jesus proclaims Bible truth; He speaks words of eternal life. The truths spoken in that sermon . . . [have gone] all over the world, and accomplished a work that eternity alone will reveal.” –Upward Look, p. 288
“When the judgment shall sit, and the books of record shall be opened, and the history of this effort is revealed, it will be seen that a light . . . [then] sprang up to be reflected all through the world through time and through eternity. This experience has been repeated to thousands of the messengers of the Lord Jesus, and has inspired hope and courage and faith.” –Upward Look, p. 288
“ ‘Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught” (Luke 5:4).” –Upward Look, p. 288
“The night was the most favorable time for the fishermen to work successfully, for in the clear water the fish would in the daylight see the net, and avoid it. Having toiled all night unsuccessfully, it seemed useless, according to human wisdom, to let down the net.” –Upward Look, p. 288
“ ‘Master,’ replied Simon, ‘we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net’ (verse 5).” –Upward Look, p. 288
“This was true obedience. Here is an instance of implicit trust in the words of Christ, in spite of an objectionable past experience. Our first lesson is to learn the will of God, even though we pass through trying circumstances, and then, knowing His will, to obey unquestioningly. Such obedience will always be rewarded.” –Upward Look, p. 288
“What was the result of Simon’s obedience? ‘And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their nets brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink’ (verses 6, 7).” –Upward Look, p. 288
“Jesus designed this experience to be an encouragement to these fishermen in their future efforts in fishing for souls. . . . What a powerful influence this wonderful transaction produced upon the minds of these humble fishermen! Christ’s power had drawn the fish into Simon’s net, but these honest-hearted men were themselves completely caught in the net that Christ has prepared for them. ‘They forsook all, and followed him’ (verse 11)”‘Leave Your Nets and Follow Me.’” –Upward Look, p. 288
“Ministers to whom is intrusted the most sacred message of warning ever given to the world, have confined their labors too much to looking after the few who have embraced the truth, when their principal labor should have been for those who have not heard the message. There are those who think it is their duty to preach the truth, but they dare not venture from the shore, and they catch no fish. They will choose to go among the churches, over and over the same ground. They report a good time, a pleasant visit, but we look in vain for the souls that are converted to the truth through their instrumentality. These ministers hug the shore too closely. Let them launch out into the deep, and cast their net where the fish are. There is no lack of work to be done. There could be hundreds employed in the vineyard of the Lord where there is now one.”– Signs of the Times, September 4, 1879
“The very best way for ministers and churches is to let this fault-finding, crooked class fall back into their own element and pull away from the shore, launch out into the deep, and cast out the gospel net again for fish that may pay for the labor bestowed upon them. Satan exults when men and women embrace the truth who are naturally fault-finding and who will throw all the darkness and hindrance they can against the advancement of the work of God. Ministers cannot now in this important period of the work be detained to prop up men and women who see and have once felt the force of the truth. They should fasten believing Christians on Christ, who is able to hold them up and preserve them blameless unto his appearing, while they go forth to new fields of labor.”– Signs of the Times, September 4, 1879
“Were Christ on the earth now, he would say to such, ‘Launch out into the deep.’ Be not so self-caring. There are thousands whose lives are just as precious as yours. Then why do you wrap your coat about you, and hug the shore? Awake to duty and to usefulness! If you will launch out into the deep and let down your nets, the Master will gather in the fishes, and you will see of the mighty working of God.” –Lift Him Up, p. 326
Ellen G. White