Okay, here's the deal:  (are you sure you're ready for this?  It may come as a shock, but...)

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

        Check that out!  Jesus goes up to these professional fishermen, and gives them a lesson in trusting in God for their success at whatever they do, and then redefines what it is they do...here's my point...

        Here's the deal.  Peter is fishing.  And fishing. And fishing.  I must say "fishing" because one could not describe it as "catching."  He's just tossing nets with no success.  As a pro, I'm sure he has come up with some sort of explanation for the lack of scaly food items in his nets, but the truth is, it is beyond his control.  All that he can do is cast his nets and hope.  Now here comes Jesus.  Jesus teaches this huge crowd all about the kingdom of God and reveals these awesome spiritual truths. Simon stops feeling the defeat of the night before so much, and learns from the Master.  But then it gets personal.
      "Let's go fishing, Simon."
      "Let's go witnessing, Jeff."
"But Jesus, we tried fishing all night, but it didn't work.  The fish just won't bite today!"
"But Jesus, we tried witnessing all morning, but it didn't work.  The rain clouds just won't go away today!"
      "Trust me."

        So Simon rows out into the lake and half heartendly tosses his net.  The waters are still looking exactly as they did the night before, but Simon has already rowed all this way.  Why not give it a try?  And then he almost flies over the side of the boat as the rope pulls taught.  He has to call his bussiness partners to help him by taking some of the fish in their boat.  Both boats ride so low in the water, they barely make it ashore.  It's the same lake, but a new situation.  The same nets, but a new technique.  The same boat, but a new captain. Everyone eats well tonite.
 
 

        Alright!  To boil it down.... when we evangelize or do anything in our own power, we fail.  When we do it in Jesus, we succeed.  So, next time you want to witness to someone, before you jump in, pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you in timing and technique.  That is important.  Only Jesus can save, only the holy Spirit can change hearts.  We can toss nets of fancy words all we want, but without the Holy Spirit in our boat, we're going to come up empty handed every time. From now on, fish for souls, but do it God's way!