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Spiritual Formation
Part 1.
Spiritual Discipline and Fishing for Men
And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately, they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him (Mark 1:17-20).
What is Spiritual Discipline?
Spiritual Disciplines are the practical aspects of the Scriptures that promote spiritual growth for the believer to grow in the likeness of Christ. They are devotional and experiential habits that biblical people have practiced since the beginning of Christianity in biblical times to the modern day. The Bible refers to both personal and interpersonal disciplines. The Bible references examples of personal spiritual disciplines, such as Christians should study the word of God and read it on their own daily. That is a personal spiritual discipline. However, they should also hear the reading of the Bible and study it with the Church and in the congregation; that is interpersonal spiritual discipline.[1]
Another example could be that Christians need to worship God privately, which is a personal spiritual discipline. Still, they should also worship God publicly and with the Church, an interpersonal discipline. One could practice some spiritual disciplines alone, such as journaling, solitude, and fasting, even though sometimes we fast as a congregation. By nature, we practice other disciplines as a congregation, such as fellowshipping with others, hearing the preaching of God's word, and being involved in the Lord's Supper. All of these disciplines require the presence of people.
Consequently, in all of these disciplines, God expects his followers to do; so that the blessings of Abraham could be on their lives through the promised Holy Spirit. Jesus practiced these disciplines, and so should his followers. The scripture says Jesus went to pray alone on at least four occasions (Matthew 4:1; 14:3; Mark 1:35; Luke 4:42). Thus, he practiced personal Spiritual Disciplines. Conversely, we also read of Jesus entering the synagogues on the Sabbath Day, as were his customs; he practiced interpersonal spiritual disciplines (Luke 4:36).[2]
Both personal and interpersonal spiritual disciplines should be practiced as a means of spiritual growth for the purpose of godliness. Spiritual disciplines are activities that you do: not an attitude. The disciplines are practices; it is not a grace. Disciplines are not a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). They are things that Christians do, such as read the Bible, meditate, fast, worship, serve, learn, etc. The goal is not about doing activities but rather becoming a person. It is like Jesus, for godliness. The purpose is to be like Jesus. The path to be like Jesus is to fulfill that purpose by doing certain activities found in the scriptures.[3]
An old saying goes like this: "Sow a thought reap an act: Sow an act; reap a habit. Sow a habit; reap a character; Sow a character, reap a destiny." In other words, to have spiritual discipline, there must be some form of spiritual direction. Many Christians lack a spiritual path when it comes to spiritual discipline. Not many emphasize the meditation of the scriptures, prayer, fasting, or worship. The scriptures have a role in personal and corporate spiritual disciplines for godliness.
The Holy Spirit is given to all who put their faith and trust in Jesus to be right with God (Ephesians 1:13-14). The presence of the Holy Spirit causes a new hunger for the Word of God-the Bible, which did not exist before. The Holy Spirit causes the believer to yearn for a life without sin and to have a mind that is no longer tempted by evil because they long to be with the perfectly Holy one (Revelation 4:8). Consequently, they begin to pursue holiness.[1]
Part 2.
Growing in Christlikeness
God plans that Christians grow in Christlikeness even though we are called sons of God. The scripture says in 1 will be like him, for we John 3:2, Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will see him as he is (1 John 3:3).
The scripture says in Galatians: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, now that we are called children of God, Christ now lives in and empowers the believer for Christian living (Galatians 2:20). It means that God will grant the believer through the anointing and power of the Holy Ghost, to look like Christ! It is the intention of the Lord for believers to grow in this Christlikeness. Therefore, believers should not just sit around and wait for Christlikeness and His holiness; Christians must pursue His holiness and Christlikeness.
In Hebrews 12:14, we are commanded to; "strive for peace with everyone; And for the holiness; without which, no one shall see the Lord." Note here that Paul is saying regardless of how many church activities you have done: Regardless of how often you have been to Church; or how spiritual your giftings are; without holiness, no man; Christian or not; shall see the Lord. Subsequently, this scripture should be one that Christians ponder most. It reveals the holiness of the Lord and the Christlike nature that God is expecting from his dear children while living on the earth.
Part 3.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Paul says the Holy Spirit lives in and empowers the believer for Christian living. The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to promote the life of Christ through the believer and within the believer.[2] Christ sent the Holy Spirit, who is also called the Spirit of Christ (1 John 14:16-20: 17:22; Romans 8:8-12; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 3: 16-17; 1 Peter 1:11), to be the comforter and helper for the believer.
In Galatians 2:20, Paul declared, "I have been crucified with Christ," revealing something negative that took place. He continued, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who now lives in me." Paul is denoting a positive union that took place. What does that mean? It means that our physical impulses are no longer activated by the flesh or sinful nature and dominate our spiritual life. Note here that Paul is not referring to our personality or personal identity; rather, Paul is making a reference to one's spiritual identity from the Old Adamic nature, the sinful nature. Our new identity is now found in Christ, a life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45; Romans 6; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10 ).
Thomas R. Schreiner clarifies what Paul meant by saying, "We should not understand the phrase, "It is no longer I who live "to denote the suppression of Paul's personality. Paul means that the old 'I,' who he was in Adam, no longer lives." The old age of sin and death has been set aside.[3] Now, it is for the believer to live out their new identity found in Christ, and their newly found identity, under His influential power and rule and reign. He is the one; the believer's identity is now found. Therefore, as believers and followers of Christ, with the new nature, he commissioned us to seek men for his kingdom.
As followers of Christ, our hearts should be transformed by the Holy Spirit. Our ways should be geared towards the image of Christ by practicing the spiritual disciplines. Examples of spiritual disciplines are fasting and prayer, along with the meditation of the scriptures, which aligned the heart to become fishers of men for the kingdom of God.
Part 4.
Catching Humans
Jesus first spoke to Simon these words; you shall be catching human beings. Lit. "taking human beings alive." The word "catch" in Gr. zōgrōn means "to take alive," or capture, "catch, or hunt."[4] Jesus' words are addressed to Simon alone in Luke 5:10. Like a fisherman, Simon will gather human beings for God's kingdom (see further the Comment). Pace J. Mánek, November 2 (1957) 138–141, the metaphor is rather to be explained on a superficial level of gathering in. It is similar to the OT use of it: "Look, I am sending for many fishers, says Yahweh, and they shall catch them" (Jer 16:16; cf. Amos 4:2; Hab 1:14–15). [4] The metaphor of the fisherman catching human beings for the kingdom implies a role linked to Jesus' ministry.
Stories of individuals being called to a life of discipleship are a common feature of religious and philosophical biography in antiquity (e.g., Philostr. VA 1.19; 4.1, 24; 8.21; Porph. Plot. 19–20; and, in general, Bieler 1935–36: 1.122–29). The Gospels contain similar accounts of the miraculous effect of Jesus' call to discipleship. What distinguishes these narratives, however, is the importance placed on the initiative of Jesus and the demand for an immediate and unconditional response on the part of the prospective disciples (Mark 1:16–20; 2:14; 5:18–19).
Part 5.
Spiritual Disciplines
Having a life of spiritual discipline is so important to Jesus to follow Jesus. Jesus rejects spiritual lethargy and leniency. Two individuals wanted to follow Jesus but got rejected by the master. They wanted to follow him based on their conditions, but only if certain conditions were met. They said to Jesus: "Let me first go and bury my father" and "Let me first say farewell to those at my home." The call of Jesus supersedes all ties to an individual's home and family (as well as to occupation and possessions, cf. Mark 1:16–20; 2:14; 10:17–22). Not even the requirement of burying one's father can come between Jesus and his disciple. Jesus rejected their stories. The fishing metaphor in the OT prophets usually has to do with warfare (Jer 16:16; Ezek 29:4–5; Amos 4:2; Hab 1:14–17), and with this background in mind, Jesus might commission the disciples to participate in God's eschatological holy war.[5]
Jesus' calling disciples "fishing for people" may be intended as a paradigm of what the disciples will do later in their future missionary preaching, teaching, and exorcisms (cf. In our passage, Jesus' action of calling disciples may easily be construed as "fishing for people." It may be intended as a paradigm of what the disciples will later do (see Shiner, Follow Me, 175–76).
The disciples' fishing for people is probably an image that includes their future missionary preaching, their future teaching, and their future exorcisms (cf. Mark 3:14–15; 6:7, 12–13, 30; 13:9–10), all of which are understood as a participation in God's eschatological war against demonic forces; this war, moreover, recapitulates God's redemption of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Hearing Jesus' word of command and promise, Peter and Andrew instantly drop their nets and follow him (Mark 1:18–20; 6:7, 12–13, 30; 13:9–10). The disciples were called to participate in God's eschatological war against demonic forces. The war recapitulates God's redemption of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Hearing Jesus' word of command and promise, Peter and Andrew instantly drop their nets and follow him (1:18).[6]
[1] Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines For the Christian Life (Colorado Springs, Co: Navpress, 2014),4.
[2] Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines, 5.
[3]Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines, 6.
[4] https://www.studylight.org/lexicons/eng/greek/2221.html
Bibliography
Fitzmyer, Joseph A., S. J. "The Role of Simon the Fisherman; The Catch of Fish(5:1–11)." In The Gospel According to Luke (I–IX): Introduction, Translation, and Notes, 559–570. New Haven & London: The Anchor Yale Bible, 1970. Accessed April 19, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9780300261646.ch-022.
Marcus, Joel. "The opposition asserts itself (Mark 2:1–3:6)." In Mark 1–8: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, 212–254. New Haven & London: The Anchor Yale Bible, 2000. Accessed April 19, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9780300261639.0019.
McClendon, P. Adam. Paul's Spirituality in Galatians: A Critique of Contemporary Christian Spirituality. WIPF & STOCK: Eugene, OR, 2015.
Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Navpress, Colardo Springs, CO: 2014.
[1] Donald S. Whitney, Spirotual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Navpress, Colardo Springs, CO: 2014), 4.
[2] P. Adam McClendon, Paul’s Spirituality in Galatians: A Critique of Contemporary Christian Spirituality (WIPF & STOCK: Eugene, OR, 2015), 27.
[3] McClendon, Paul’s Spirituality in Galatians, 9.
[4] Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S. J.. "The Role of Simon the Fisherman; The Catch of Fish(5:1–11)." In The Gospel According to Luke (I–IX): Introduction, Translation, and Notes, 559–570. New Haven & London: The Anchor Yale Bible, 1970. Accessed April 19, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9780300261646.ch-022.
[5] Joel Marcus, "The opposition asserts itself (Mark 2:1–3:6)." In Mark 1–8: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, 212–254. New Haven & London: The Anchor Yale Bible, 2000. Accessed April 19, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9780300261639.0019.
[6] Ibid.
