Behold, I am going to send for many fishermen,”declares the LORD, “and they will fish for them; and afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and every hill and from the clefts of the rocks. Jeremiah 16:16

The beginning of this Chapter (Jeremiah 16) doesn’t start out pretty , as God is punishing Israel for its sins and idolatry. However just like in the beginning of time, God has a plan of restoration! God fortells he is going to send out many “fishermen” and many “hunters” to bring back the lost and unsaved

Now because we have further revelation (New Testament) we know how God fulfilled this prophecy through Jesus Christ. But imagine being Jeremiah and wondering what God was talking about when he said he is going to send out “Fisher of Men”

And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Fast forward to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ! He called upon literal Fisherman, (Peter and Andrew) to be his disciples and bring the lost back to God. Jesus told them “I will make you Fishers of Men”, which fulfilled the prophecy by Jeremiah

Notice Jesus says to them “Follow Me” first. Jesus didn’t force them into becoming “Fishers of Men” then believed and trusted in Jesus to complete the works that he promised them. So how do you Fish for People? Spread the good news (gospel) of Christ, be kind and do good works for your neighbors, even your enemies! Be the Light and Salt of the Earth

Follow Jesus and he will make you Fisher of Men! Help lead people to Christ and set them free from condemnation Amen!

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Often times as Christians we probably feel our work for Jesus is in vein. We work very hard every day to live for The Lord, however sometimes we don’t see the fruits of our labor for a long time. Paul is preaching a message of hope and perseverance to his fellow Christians. Your labor for God is not in vain, God knows every work you has done and your works are being used to prepare the Kingdom of God

Knowing that your (kopos) is not  (kenos)

The Greek word kopos also means pains, labor, toil

The Greek word kenos means empty

Knowing that your (Pains) Is Not (Empty)

The work your are doing for Jesus is not empty, its not fruitless. However during this time, you are going to feel pains, your going to labor , you are going to toil. But your work is for God and nobody else. When you keep the right perspective on your labor, they you will always be satisfied

and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 1 Corinthians 15:14

The Resurrection is the center of Christianity, because without the Resurrection of Christ there is no hope. Without the Resurrection of Christ there is no purpose for anything your doing as a Christian. However since we know the Resurrection is true, we know that our works are not in vein (kenon) (empty) but our works are fulfilling Gods Kingdom

Kenon and Kenos mean the same thing in Greek meaning Empty

If Christ has not been raised (Resurrected) then our preaching is  (Kenon) (Empty) and your Faith is also (Kenon) (Empty)

However since we know Christ has been raised from the dead , our works and faith are fulfilling in glorifying God Amen!

Therefore, thus says the LORD, “If you return, then I will restore you– Before Me you will stand; And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you, But as for you, you must not turn to them. Jeremiah 15:19

The Life of being a prophet for Jeremiah was taking a toll on him, read what Jeremiah said to God before he responded

“Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me As a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have not lent, nor have men lent money to me, Yet everyone curses me.” Jeremiah 15:10

Because Jeremiah was speaking truth to people and warning them about the judgement of God, everyone turned on him. Nobody wants to hear the truth unless it benefits them. God was calling the nation of Israel to repentance, yet nobody wanted to listen. Instead they wanted to “shoot the messenger”

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 2 Timothy 3:1-4

Fast forward to today, people still don’t want to repent. People still don’t want to hear the truth about God. Instead people want to “shoot the messengers” , they don’t want to believe in God, they want to discredit the Bible, they want to pretend Jesus never existed.

God said if you return (Repent) to him,  then he will restore You, by the blood of Jesus Christ we can be set free Amen!