![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/witness-back-pack1.jpg\" "\\"witness")
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It was called the witness back pack. In plain view for all to see were these words. He came. He died. He rose. He ascended. He\u2019s coming back. Each phrase had a symbol to go with it as well. I thought it was a great way to share the Gospel.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s a way for others to ask questions. Questions like, \u201cWho is \u2018he?\u2019\u201d \u201cWhere did \u2018he\u2019 go?\u201d \u201cWhere did \u2018he\u2019 come from?\u201d \u201cWhy did \u2018he\u2019 come?\u201d \u201cWhen is \u2018he\u2019 coming back?\u201d<\/p>\n
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And through answering all of these questions, the Gospel message is being shared. And as the conversation continues, the question we all love to hear will be asked. \u201cWhat must I do to be saved?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Throughout the Gospels and the Book of Acts we find this question being asked. The question may not be worded exactly as above, but the question is the same. \u201cI\u2019m lost. What do I need to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Let\u2019s look at some of these conversion accounts to see what the question was and the response.<\/p>\n
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Jesus taught a Pharisee named Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) at night. Nicodemus had all the right questions and Jesus was the answer. Jesus first made the statement, \u201cVery truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.\u201d<\/em> (John 3:3 \u2013 NIV) Then Nicodemus asked, \u201cHow can someone be born when are old?\u201d<\/em> (John 3:4 \u2013 NIV) Jesus continued with His teaching and while we don\u2019t know what Nicodemus decided, we know he asked the question and he got the answer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While sitting by a well in Samaria, Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman (John 4:42). Through their discourse, she asked a few questions. \u201cWhere can you get this living water?\u201d<\/em> (John 4:11 \u2013 NIV) \u201cCould this be the Messiah?\u201d <\/em>(John 4:29 \u2013 NIV) Not only did the woman believe, but many from the town believed as well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jesus healed a man of blindness if John 9:1-12. The Pharisees questioned the healed man and had could not understand why the man believed that Jesus was a prophet. After being thrown out, Jesus encountered the man again. Jesus asked, \u201cDo you believe in the Son of Man?\u201d<\/em> (John 9:35 \u2013 NIV) Then the man asked, \u201cWho is he, sir? Tell me so that I may believe in him.\u201d <\/em>(John 9:36 \u2013 NIV) This man believed. He knew who had healed him. It was Jesus.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We find similar questions and accounts in the Book of Acts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This question was asked when Peter delivered his first message in Acts 2. \u201cWhen the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, \u2018Brothers, what shall we do?\u2019\u201d <\/em>(Acts 2:37 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Philip encountered an Ethiopian and we find this question. \u201cPhilip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. \u2018Do you understand what you are reading?\u2019 Philip asked. \u2018How can I,\u2019 he said, \u2018unless someone explains it to me?\u2019\u201d<\/em> (Acts 8:30 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Saul asked a question when he saw Jesus. \u201cWho are you, Lord?\u201d<\/em> (Acts 9:5 \u2013 NIV) Jesus\u2019 response to Saul was, \u201cI am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.\u201d<\/em> (Acts 9:5-6 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paul and Silas had been flogged severely and thrown into prison at Philippi (Acts 16:22-34). While they continued to witness through prayer and singing, an earthquake shook the prison and all the prisoners were released from their chains. The jailer was about to kill himself when Paul and Silas told him all the prisoners were accounted for. The jailer then asked a question that would change his life forever. \u201cSirs, what must I do to be saved?\u201d<\/em> (Acts 16:30 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We know that these questions were all followed by obedience to God. They accepted Jesus for who He was and for what He could do for them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But there were others who asked a question and the response wasn\u2019t positive.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Matthew 19, Jesus hears a question from a rich young man. \u201cTeacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?\u201d <\/em>(Matthew 19:16 \u2013 NIV) After hearing Jesus\u2019 response, we find the young man leaving (Matthew 19:22). He was very sad because he wasn\u2019t willing to do what Jesus had asked him to do. He chose not to accept eternal life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After the miracle of feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1-15), Jesus went to the other side of the lake in His own miraculous way. But the crowd followed. When they found Him they asked this question. \u201cWhat must we do to do the works God\u2019s requires?\u201d<\/em> (John 6:28 \u2013 NIV) Jesus\u2019 response was, \u201cThe work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.\u201d <\/em>(John 6:29 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Later in this chapter we find that this group abandoned Jesus and His teaching. When Jesus\u2019 teaching grew difficult to accept or difficult to follow, they turned back and no longer followed Him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While it is difficult for me to understand walking away from Jesus, there are many who do. The only thing we can do is continue dialogue with them and pray for them. Pray that maybe someone else will come into their life who can proclaim God\u2019s message to them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This back pack is just one way that we can share the Gospel message with others. I don\u2019t know that I will purchase one (I really do have plenty of bags already), but someone will and someone will use it to spread the Gospel and be an influence for God in their realm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How are you sharing the Gospel message with others? Remember we are called to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). It\u2019s our responsibility to share this message. I pray that God will open doors and create opportunities for each of us to do just that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Donna<\/p>\n <\/p>\n