The Night of Empty Nets
When we walk through the story of Simon Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus the Messiah, we are first introduced to him at a key moment in his life. Peter was a fisherman, an expert in his profession. He wasn't just a worker either, scriptures record that he owned a boat, and was business partners with James and John (and possibly his brother Andrew). Here was a group of four businessmen, each of them raised in a culture focused on bringing forth the Basileia-Kingdom of God, each of them waiting for the Messiah, each of them rejected by the religious leaders of their day as not good enough to minister. Each of them resigned to a lifetime of fishing all night to pay wages, taxes, and maybe enough left over to feed their families.
These were men who knew their industry. They'd been taught how to fish from the moment they became teenagers. They knew their equipment, their boats, their nets. They knew the water and how to navigate at night to find the fish which would feed them in the new day. That day, as told in Luke 5, when Jesus came up to Peter on the shore, they were washing their nets. Even with no catch there was work to do, maintaining their equipment, preparing to fish tomorrow night. Then there was this rabbi. This was the man his brother Andrew (who'd taken time off work to go listen to that crackpot prophet in the wilderness) told him about, Jesus. At first glance this was a rabbi part of the same religious leaders who decided which 13-year old men would go on to become apprentices to the rabbis, and who weren't good enough to be ministers in the Basileia-Kingdom of God. This rabbi, Jesus, came up to them, and wanted to use their boat to preach.
Have you encountered that? You work all day, seems like there's nothing left after everyone's been paid, then your pastor, who may not recognise your talent, your skill, your God-given design, comes along and tells you you need to tithe a bit more, to give to the church to pay his wages or their next big building which sits empty six days a week, while you work extra hours for nothing, with a deep desire in your heart to make a difference for God. Peter probably felt that way too, with the religious leaders of his time all enjoying the benefits of the Jewish religion, but the everyday Jew was stuck paying for an extravagant temple on top of crippling taxes, and burdened down by the weight of the law. In that moment, Peter turned to Jesus, recognising the deep desire to give to God whatever was asked, and simply said yes.
A Divine Redirection
Peter's exhausted. His nets are worn. His boat and an employee are being used for more religion that he probably stopped caring about. He's there. He's listening. But it doesn't seem like he's taking it in. The Basileia-Kingdom of God is at hand, but Jesus needs to get Peter's attention if He wants Peter to follow
Go out and fish again, but throw your nets out of the other side of the boat.
We read this but don't really think about what it's really saying. This man is a carpenter and a rabbi. He's no fisherman. At this point Peter's probably thinking, who does this guy think he is? You don't go fishing in deep water in the middle of the day. And it's not like we didn't think to throw the nets out the other side of the boat last night. We threw them out the front. The back. Each side. We were even tempted to dive in ourselves just to see if the fish were there.
But something in him accepted what Jesus said, and he went out to that deep water. He threw the nets out of the other side of the boat. And they came up groaning. There were so many fish in that net, James and John needed to go out to help him bring it in. Their nets were breaking. The ships were sinking from how many fish were loaded in. And Peter fell to his knees before Jesus, and told him to go away and leave him alone.
A New Business Model
We don't know for sure what Peter's circumstances were. Maybe he had a big tax bill he needed to pay with that enormous load of fish. Maybe a loan to pay for his boat. Maybe he was able to make a crucial payment to support his family. One thing we know for sure is that this load of fish was a turning point in their business. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were able to walk away from their business and follow Jesus. God had probably placed deep inside them a desire to build the Basileia-kingdom of God, so deep they had abandoned their dreams to simply live and survive life. This dream responded to the call of Jesus to follow Him.
Before this moment, these men were owner operators of their business. They were hands on with the nets, one step above an employee, and probably five steps behind as a result. From that day forward, we don't know what happened to their business for the next three years. Maybe they promoted a trusted employee to run their business as a manager. Maybe they rented out their boats to other fishermen. Maybe they had other relatives or even sons of their own who could step in. What we do know is that in John 22, their fishing business was still there, and they were able to step back in as owners for a brief time before Jesus grabbed them and put them right back into ministry.
We can speculate the revitalised business generated enough income to support their families and their ministries. We don't think they were wealthy as a result. After all, Peter hadn't paid the temple tax in Matthew 17:24-27. It's likely whatever they did earn in excess of their family's needs went into the common purse held by Judas Iscariot. What we do know is whatever the source, God provided for three years of discipleship under Jesus the Messiah.
After John 22 we never see Peter return to the nets again. God had bigger plans for him. Just like God has bigger plans for you. Those plans may be buried deep inside you, pressed down by the requirements of life as a business owner. Maybe they've been torn to shreds by religious leaders. Maybe you've given up on them entirely. Just like Peter when he returned to the nets in John 22.
Spirit LED Marketing
Today, we still see the kingdom impact of those four businessmen, Peter, Andrew, James, and John on the Basileia kingdom of God. They walked away from the day-today grind of the hands-on operations of their businesses, restructured them to finance the Basileia kingdom of God, and were among the first learning at the feet of Jesus. Like them, you may have a deep desire to seek first the Basileia kingdom of God. You may desire to seek the Holy Spirit for insight on how to run your business, to discover the small things that you can do to change your business, like Jesus telling Peter to throw his nets out the other side of the boat. Maybe the journey you need to walk is discovering your God-given design, both for you and for your business.
That’s what we’re about. At Basileia Marketing, we use Spirit-Led Marketing. Just like in the story of Peter, we use the combination of skill and training while seeking the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit to discover the small insights which can make a huge difference. We likewise bring to bear a lifetime of study of the scriptures with 17 years business experience, 5 years of Bible and pastoral training and experience to walk with you in discipleship to discover you and your business’ God-given design.
When we seek God, there’s insight that can guide your business from being a working you, to being the resource that funds the ministry mission that God has for you. We want to help you discover that. Sign up for our regular newsletter exploring the scriptures and business. Check out our training and coaching to start your journey. Explore our done-for-you marketing packages covered in prayer, and see if there’s some way we can help you change your business and pursue your mission.
Spirit Led Marketing...
In Luke 5 we have the of career fisherman, Peter. Despite fishing all night, they caught nothing. Jesus instructed Peter to put his nets out the other side of the boat. Peter obeyed (reluctantly at first) and brought in such a massive haul they needed two boats. We have two lessons here. The first is no matter how much experience you have, how much you know, how well you know your industry, sometimes even the experts come up empty. How much more do you struggle?
The second is God’s word often makes the difference between bringing in nothing, and more than you can handle. Spirit Led Marketing is Basileia Marketing’s core calling. We take our industry knowledge and expertise, apply best practices, and seek God for what side of the boat to fish. Every expert has a different opinion about what works, so we ask the ultimate expert for his guidance and insight. Rather than specialise and trust a specific marketing style, we seek to provide you with a solution tailored by the King.
SERVICES
SPIRIT-LED MARKETING
Every campaign we craft begins with prayer and discernment. By aligning your goals with a faith-driven approach, we create strategies that resonate with authenticity and purpose.
Scripture-based Consulting
Looking for guidance grounded in biblical wisdom? Our Scripture-based consulting services provide practical and spiritual insights to help you make decisions that align with God’s plan for your business.
BUSINESS PASTORAL CARE
Your message deserves to be heard. We create interesting, optimized content that increases your visibility online while telling your unique story with clarity and impact.
GIFT-BASED CONSULTING
Discover your unique strengths with our gift-based consulting services. By identifying your natural talents and redemptive gifts, we help align your business strategies with your purpose, creating a pathway for meaningful success.
EMAIL MARKETING
Send the right message, at the right time, to the right audience. Our email marketing campaigns nurture relationships, encourage action, and grow your business with integrity.
CONTENT MARKETING
Share your story with the world through compelling blog posts, articles, and branded content that resonate with your audience and amplify your mission.
SOCIAL-MEDIA SERVICES
Engage your audience and build meaningful connections through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Our social media strategies are designed to amplify your message and foster community.
Ad Campaign Management
Maximise your marketing budget with expertly managed ad campaigns. We use data-driven strategies to ensure your ads reach the right people and deliver measurable results.
Visual Content Creation
Videos are a powerful way to share your story. Let us transform your footage into polished, engaging content that captures your audience’s attention and aligns with your values.
Graphic Design
Make a lasting impression with stunning designs that reflect your brand and values. From logos to websites, we create visuals that inspire trust and communicate your mission.
SEO
Boost your online visibility with detailed keyword research, on-page and technical SEO improvements, and analytics to ensure your site ranks higher in search results
WEB DESIGN
Transform your online presence with bespoke web design tailored to your brand. Our designs are intuitive and optimised for performance, ensuring your website not only looks great but also delivers results.
Warrior Marketing Services
SPIRIT-LED MARKETING
Every campaign we craft begins with prayer and discernment. By aligning your goals with a faith-driven approach, we create strategies that resonate with authenticity and purpose.
SCRIPTURE-BASED CONSULTING
Looking for guidance grounded in biblical wisdom? Our Scripture-based consulting services provide practical and spiritual insights to help you make decisions that align with God’s plan for your business.
BUSINESS PASTORAL CARE
Your message deserves to be heard. We create interesting, optimised content that increases your visibility online while telling your unique story with clarity and impact.
GIFT-BASED CONSULTING
Engage your audience and build meaningful connections through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Our social media strategies are designed to amplify your message and foster community.
EMAIL MARKETING
Send the right message, at the right time, to the right audience. Our email marketing campaigns nurture relationships, encourage action, and grow your business with integrity.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Make a lasting impression with stunning designs that reflect your brand and values. From logos to websites, we create visuals that inspire trust and communicate your mission.
Visual Content Creation
Videos are a powerful way to share your story. Let us transform your footage into polished, engaging content that captures your audience’s attention and aligns with your values.
Ad Campaign Management
Maximise your marketing budget with expertly managed ad campaigns. We use data-driven strategies to ensure your ads reach the right people and deliver measurable results.
SOCIAL-MEDIA SERVICES
Engage your audience and build meaningful connections through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Our social media strategies are designed to amplify your message and foster community.
CONTENT MARKETING
Share your story with the world through compelling blog posts, articles, and branded content that resonate with your audience and amplify your mission.
SEO
Boost your online visibility with detailed keyword research, on-page and technical SEO improvements, and analytics to ensure your site ranks higher in search results
WEB DESIGN
Transform your online presence with bespoke web design tailored to your brand. Our designs are intuitive and optimised for performance, ensuring your website not only looks great but also delivers results.
