# The Divine Mandate: Fishers of Men and Fishers of Money

May 20, 2026

Lady Apostle Diana Adu

# The Divine Mandate: Fishers of Men and Fishers of Money # The Divine Mandate: Fishers of Men and Fishers of Money **Scripture References:** Matthew 4:19; Matthew 17:24-27; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8 ## Introduction: The Vocation of the Kingdom Praise the Lord, Saints of God! It is a joy to stand before you today in the house of the Lord, where the Spirit of the Living God dwells and where His Word provides a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. In our African Diaspora Pentecostal tradition, we have always understood that our faith is not merely a Sunday morning ritual; it is a total life experience. We serve a God who is interested in our souls, yes, but He is also interested in our hands, our homes, and our heritage. Today, I want to speak to you on a theme that might sound provocative at first, but it is deeply rooted in the heart of the Gospel: **"Fishers of Money."** We are all familiar with the call of the first disciples in Matthew 4:19, where Jesus says, *"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."* This has been the anthem of the Church for two millennia. However, as we look deeper into the scriptures and the specific instructions Jesus gave His followers, we see that the call to win souls is inextricably linked to the supernatural enablement to command resources. To be a fisher of men in the 21st century—to build churches, to send missionaries, to support our communities here in Britain and across the continent of Africa—requires us to also understand our mandate as fishers of money. This is not about greed; it is about the governance of the Kingdom. It is about the supernatural enablement for witnessing and for the finance that supports the mission. ## The Template: I Will Make You Let us look first at the template found in Matthew 4:19. When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, He didn’t just give them a new job; He gave them a new identity. He said, *"I will make you."* This is a process of transformation. In our tradition, we understand that we cannot do God’s work with human strength. We need the "making" of the Master. Jesus took their existing skill—fishing—and sanctified it for a higher purpose. They knew how to wait, how to cast a net, and how to recognize the movements of the sea. Jesus was saying that the skills you used in the marketplace are the very skills I will use for the Kingdom. But notice, church, that before they could fish for men, they had to be in a relationship of following. The "making" happens in the "following." If we want to see the resources of this world flow into the storehouse of God, we must first be committed followers of the Christ. We cannot command the fish of the sea if we do not obey the Master of the sea. The template is clear: transformation precedes manifestation. ## The Foreshadowing: The Coin in the Fish’s Mouth Now, let us move to a profound moment of foreshadowing in Matthew 17:24-27. Here, the collectors of the temple tax come to Peter, asking if Jesus pays the tax. Jesus, in His divine wisdom, teaches Peter a lesson about the status of the sons of the Kingdom. But then, He does something remarkable. He tells Peter to go to the lake, throw out a line, and take the first fish he catches. Jesus says, *"Open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."* Beloved, do not miss the educational depth of this miracle. This is the "Fishers of Men" template being applied to the realm of "Fishers of Money." Peter was a fisherman by trade. Jesus did not tell him to go and find a bag of gold on the street. He told him to go back to his place of labor, to his vocation, and expect a supernatural encounter within the natural process. This tells us that God intends to provide for the mission through the very avenues He has called us to walk. The coin was in the mouth of the fish. This is a prophetic sign that the resources needed for the Gospel are often hidden within the very harvest we are called to reach. When we go after the "fish"—the souls of men—God has already placed the "coin"—the provision—inside the harvest. This foreshadows a great truth: the mission of God never lacks the means of God when we follow the methods of God. He is teaching us that as we fish for men, we will, by necessity and divine providence, become fishers of the money required to sustain the work. ## The Promise: Tarrying for Power As we transition from the Gospels to the book of Acts, we encounter the Promise. In Luke 24:49, Jesus tells His disciples, *"I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."* This is echoed in Acts 1:8: *"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses..."* In our Pentecostal heritage, we celebrate the "Power." We shout for the "Fire." But we must ask ourselves: what is this power for? The Greek word is *Dunamis*, from which we get "dynamite." It is inherent power, capability, and ability. We often think of this power only in terms of speaking in tongues or healing the sick. But church, the power of the Holy Spirit is also the supernatural enablement for *witnessing*. And how can we witness effectively if we are bound by the chains of poverty and lack? Waiting for the power means waiting for the total equipment of the believer. The Holy Spirit does not just empower your tongue to preach; He empowers your hands to prosper. He provides the "supernatural enablement" to command the finances necessary to support the mission. When the early church received the power in Acts, the Bible says in Acts 4 that there was no needy person among them. Why? Because the power for witnessing created a community of supernatural provision. To be a witness in London, in Birmingham, in Lagos, or in Accra requires the power to stand before kings and the resources to build institutions that reflect the glory of God. ## The Reflection of the Covenant This entire structure—from the call of Peter to the upper room—is a reflection of the fulfillment of God’s covenant. We serve a Covenant-Keeping God. When God called Abraham, He said, *"I will bless you... and you will be a blessing."* This is the dual nature of the covenant. The blessing is not an end in itself; it is a means to a global end. The "Fishers of Money" concept is the New Testament expression of the Abrahamic Covenant. God enables us to gather resources so that we can fulfill the Great Commission. When we wait for the power, we are waiting for the fulfillment of the promise that God will provide everything pertaining to life and godliness. The covenant guarantees that if God gives the vision, He will provide the provision. Our role is to be the "fishers"—those who are active, those who are expectant, and those who are skilled in the things of the Spirit and the things of the world. ## Practical Application: How to Fish How then do we apply this? First, we must change our mindset. We must stop seeing money as "unholy." Money is a tool for the Kingdom. If the devil can keep the church broke, he can limit the reach of the Gospel. We must become "Fishers of Money" by exercising our faith in our workplaces, our businesses, and our investments. Secondly, we must "tarry." We must spend time in the presence of God to receive the strategies for wealth. Just as Peter had to go to the specific lake and catch the specific fish, God has specific instructions for your financial breakthrough. It comes through prayer, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, and through a commitment to the mission. Finally, we must remember the purpose. We fish for money so that we can fish for men. If the money stays in your pocket and never reaches the mission, you have missed the mandate. The coin was taken from the fish’s mouth to pay the tax—to fulfill a legal and spiritual obligation. Our resources are for the advancement of the Kingdom. ## Conclusion: Clothed with Capability As I draw to a close, be comforted, Saints of God. You are not alone in your struggles. The same Jesus who knew exactly which fish had the coin knows exactly where your provision is located. He is calling you today to a higher level of expectation. Do not be weary in your waiting. The "power from on high" is coming upon you. It is a power that makes you a effective witness and a successful steward. You are being called to be a "Fisher of Men" and a "Fisher of Money." One provides the harvest of souls, and the other provides the storehouse to keep them. May you walk out of this sanctuary today with a new vision. May the Holy Spirit sharpen your nets and direct your boat to the deep waters. May you find the "coin" in the midst of your "fishing," and may the mission of God through your life never lack for any good thing. The covenant is sure. The promise is true. The power is available. Go forth and fish, for the glory of the King! Amen and Amen.