“Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5 NKJ).
Here is a rhema promise for everyone who has read the manual, followed all the rules and still not attained the desired results. One leader complained, “I went to a church growth seminar. While I was away some of the folks in the church got discouraged and quit. When I got back home from learning how to help the church grow, I had fewer people than when I went away. I must be doing something wrong.”
If anyone knew how to fish, it was Peter. Prior to meeting Jesus, Peter had been a professional fisherman. He knew about fish. He knew their feeding habits, when and where to go looking for them, and how to catch them.
Peter had fished right the evening before. He knew that the fish fed at night up close to the shore, so that’s where he fished for them. Yet he had caught nothing. Then along comes Jesus, a carpenter, who tells him to do two things, both contrary to all the rules of good fishing practice.
First, He asks him to fish at the brightest time of the day. (Any lake fisherman knows that when the sun is on the water, the fish all go to the bottom of the lake.) Secondly, Jesus asks Peter to reverse his direction and fish out in the center of the lake rather than along the shore.
Peter knew the habits of fish. But he also knew the power of Jesus’ Word. His response to these seemingly contradictory directions was, “Master, we have done it right, but have had no results. However, at Your rhema (Word), we will try it again Your way.” The Lord’s way worked! His way and His Word will work for us, too!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.