08/03/18 WITNESSING IS ESSENTIAL
DASH-CAM MESSAGES: 2 messages
1. Telling the same person twice.
2. Better to be shown than find it alone.
PART 1
I often meet the same people I have previously met and witnessed to while kayaking or fishing or while I am just, "owt and abowt.". My witnessing varies to degree and depth, from person to person.
While I was at the boat ramp, checking the wind and weather, I talked to a young man, with whom I had actually talked and and witnessed last year. He works with the UNC Marine Lab. However, I did not realize that we had met until our conversation was almost over.
As we were talking, I could tell he was getting ready to shove off with his crew, so I needed to speak quickly.
I shot straight to the heart of things by asking, "Are you a Christian?"
He suddenly had a funny look on his face, and he seemed to be mulling over the question and conversation.
He hesitatingly said he was a Christian, but since he did not answer immediately, I guessed that he might not be saved.
Realizing we did not have much time to talk I could not delve any deeper, but I wanted to leave him with something to think about.
I said, "You need to follow Jesus, just as closely as you can, cause we are living in difficult times and you need to follow Jesus just as close as you can."
Again he got a look on his face, with a knowing smile. He said, I think I have talked to you before.
As I was trying to remember the situation, he said, "It was right down here on this ramp."
I always hope that my witness will stay with people and they will think about their relationship with God.
So, how do I feel when I meet someone a second time, but they might not have acted on the truths I shared with them before?
I figure, God has given me a second chance, a second opportunity to share with them. Therefore God has at least two situations through which to speak with that person. God can do whatever He wants to do, but He does choose to work through His people. This is why our witness is so important.
Romans 10:14-17
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Think about it. Some people NEVER have anyone witness to them. Maybe no on else has spoken to this young man since I did, last year. But now he has been witnessed to twice, by one person, within a year.
I have witnessed to a lot of people who have never had anyone else tell them about Jesus. HOW SAD IS THAT?
PART 2
IT IS BETTER TO BE HELPED THAN TO FIND OUR OWN WAY.
(On my drive home, I decided to check out a possible new fishing spot. When I pulled down the road, I went left, when I should have gone right. I chose to use this as another little message.)
People can find their own way to God (as the Holy Spirit helps them and leads them), but how much better to be helped by someone? It is faster, easier, more likely to be productive if someone helps us find the way of Christ, than if we have to find it on our own.
I stopped at the entry way to the marina to see if it was for members only.
Boy, that would be a bad thing. A person wants to get to heaven, hopes to get to heaven, studies about getting to heaven, but they never find the right way, and when they die they are told that they cannot come in because you have to be a member.
You can't get in. The gates are locked. There is only one gate. That gate is Jesus.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
This is why we witness. So that we can tell people about Jesus, about the Way.
I make personal comments about the area, about a building that would make a nice church building, then I close this message by saying,
KEEP ON FISHING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY, KEEP ON FISHING.
