Christmas As Springboard For the Message of Life

WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:05.759 I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours. And Me, 2 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:11.789 Lord, I am yours, I am yours. I'm welcome to the Gospel 3 00:00:11.830 --> 00:00:17.390 Center pre life podcast, a podcast designed to equip, encourage and challenge you 4 00:00:17.510 --> 00:00:21.660 in pro life ministry and always were the focus on the Gospel. Stay tuned. 5 00:00:23.660 --> 00:00:35.340 I felt show passish, touch your heart. Use Me. Welcome back 6 00:00:35.340 --> 00:00:38.490 to the Gospel Center pro life podcast. Appreciate you, guys, joining us 7 00:00:38.530 --> 00:00:43.530 as always and as always, we hope this episode will be a blessing to 8 00:00:43.570 --> 00:00:48.609 you and we're going to talk about maybe a kind of unique subject. This 9 00:00:48.969 --> 00:00:54.039 should be coming out before Christmas, and so we're going to talk about how 10 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:59.600 we can reach out to these MOMS going into the abortion center and really reach 11 00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:03.479 people just in general, maybe not just the MOMS and the dad's, but 12 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:07.230 maybe just people in our lives, with the pro life message, and use 13 00:01:07.269 --> 00:01:12.310 the Christmas story as a springboard for that message. And some of you guys, 14 00:01:12.430 --> 00:01:17.989 maybe you're probably already doing this. You're already using it because it's in 15 00:01:18.109 --> 00:01:21.579 your mind. You make these connections. I mean, Gosh, Mary, 16 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:26.379 a young woman who was she was not in sin, she didn't get pregnant 17 00:01:26.659 --> 00:01:33.049 for for her sinful lifestyle. But she was a young mother and what? 18 00:01:33.290 --> 00:01:36.689 Fourteen some people, right, that's what they think. Yeah, just teenager. 19 00:01:36.930 --> 00:01:38.250 And so she's in a, you know what the world would say, 20 00:01:38.290 --> 00:01:44.930 a situation where she she doesn't need to have a baby. Story UN planned 21 00:01:45.010 --> 00:01:49.680 by her. Yeah, unplanned pregnancy. Modern Times, people would have encouraged 22 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:52.760 her to have an abortion. Sure, many people would have. And so, 23 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:55.480 yeah, we're going to talk about how can you add the abortion center 24 00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:59.920 use that story as a springboard? Maybe it's in a oneonone conversation, maybe 25 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:02.829 it's in as you're calling out to them going into the abortion center. I 26 00:02:02.870 --> 00:02:06.709 think it's kind of along the lines of what God says, that talking point 27 00:02:06.750 --> 00:02:09.430 that we use what God says, right, and the humanity the baby as 28 00:02:09.469 --> 00:02:14.870 well. Yeah, and may be on the microphones. So we use amplified 29 00:02:14.909 --> 00:02:17.020 sound here and we're able to kind of broadcast more of a like a message, 30 00:02:17.060 --> 00:02:22.219 a general message to everyone who's maybe sitting in the cars and parking lot 31 00:02:22.259 --> 00:02:23.939 or inside the waiting room of the abortion center, whatever it might be. 32 00:02:24.620 --> 00:02:30.449 But in those contexts, how can you use the Christmas story as a springboard 33 00:02:30.050 --> 00:02:35.449 to share the pro life message? It is so rich and filled luke one, 34 00:02:35.770 --> 00:02:38.969 luke one and two, but especially luke one, just really filled with 35 00:02:39.250 --> 00:02:46.439 great things to call out to the women, and I do this with every 36 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:52.120 holiday. I really look for at every holiday, major holiday, and think, 37 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:54.120 first of all, I reckoge nice and I call out to them. 38 00:02:54.280 --> 00:02:59.270 What do you think you're going to think every single Christmas from this point forward? 39 00:02:59.430 --> 00:03:02.110 What are you going to remember? You'll remember when you were here and 40 00:03:02.349 --> 00:03:06.590 and what choice you meant, and that holiday is always going to be tinged 41 00:03:07.189 --> 00:03:10.389 with either the joy or the despair of that choice that you made. So 42 00:03:10.949 --> 00:03:15.539 the holidays, I think, are an effective thing for us to really focus 43 00:03:15.659 --> 00:03:21.659 on as they're approaching, all the holidays, but Christmas especially. Yeah, 44 00:03:21.780 --> 00:03:24.259 and so you know, we're just a few weeks away. What what are 45 00:03:24.300 --> 00:03:29.930 we now? Three weeks away from from Christmas right now. And so I've 46 00:03:30.050 --> 00:03:36.009 started speaking about Christmas and the messages of Christmas, but it's the holiday where 47 00:03:36.090 --> 00:03:42.439 you are celebrating a baby, yeah, and who started off as an unborn 48 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:46.240 baby, yeah, in the womb of a vulnerable young lady. It just 49 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:54.789 the parallels are perfect. Yeah, Mary's pregnancy is the world's most wellknown unplanned 50 00:03:54.789 --> 00:03:59.669 pregnancy. Correct, right, I'm planned accordand by her and right in the 51 00:03:59.710 --> 00:04:02.189 world, but not planned according to the Lord, and I'll even say that, 52 00:04:02.310 --> 00:04:05.550 by the way, as long as we're hitting that point, that it 53 00:04:05.949 --> 00:04:11.379 was unplanned by her, but not by the Lord, and he definitely had 54 00:04:11.379 --> 00:04:14.979 a plan and a purpose. And I'll say that's true of every human life. 55 00:04:15.259 --> 00:04:18.060 Yeah, not. And and even today, I said now Mary was 56 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:23.819 pregnant with the son of God. Odd and that's not who you're pregnant with. 57 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:26.610 I want to let you all know that. Yeah, absolutely, that 58 00:04:26.730 --> 00:04:30.889 only happen once. However, that baby is precious to God and has a 59 00:04:31.170 --> 00:04:34.209 purpose before God. So go on with what you were saying. But but 60 00:04:34.329 --> 00:04:38.639 that's where I'll often start. Yeah, well, Chrismas, that's it is 61 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:44.600 that the Christmas story, no matter how secular our society becomes and no matter 62 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:48.279 how secular minded people are, the Christmas story around this season is on the 63 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:54.269 forefront of people's minds. Right, and the songs that are sung, except 64 00:04:54.310 --> 00:04:57.430 for like Holly Jolly Christmas and some of the ones that drive me crazy, 65 00:04:57.509 --> 00:05:01.069 grandma under the rating. Actually, okay, I'm sorry, grandma got randy 66 00:05:01.069 --> 00:05:05.629 about right now that one. That's that's that's a quality class okay, but 67 00:05:05.709 --> 00:05:10.899 rocking around the Christmas tree. I hate it. Okay, Santa Baby, 68 00:05:11.540 --> 00:05:15.660 I'm kind of rabbit trailing here. I hate that. That is probably you 69 00:05:15.699 --> 00:05:17.019 know what's Song I'm talking about, Santa. I don't know that it is 70 00:05:17.100 --> 00:05:21.930 the is. It is quite possibly the worst song ever written outside of the 71 00:05:23.970 --> 00:05:28.050 Beatles Christmas Song. Now, I'm probably stepping on some people's toes there, 72 00:05:28.569 --> 00:05:30.610 but that Beatles Christmas song. I even forget the words of that's. I 73 00:05:30.689 --> 00:05:34.370 can't stand a try even of that one. But okay, going back to 74 00:05:34.449 --> 00:05:39.079 my point, h the Christmas songs will come. We'll call me Manuel. 75 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:43.439 Yeah, come all you faithful. Yeah, silent night, a little town 76 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:46.360 of n a little too away, in a manger. These are, or 77 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:49.269 you know was. As long as we're on Christmas songs, this one makes 78 00:05:49.350 --> 00:05:54.310 me cry every time. Mary, did you know that's? You know that 79 00:05:54.430 --> 00:05:56.910 one? Yeah, did you know that, your baby boy? I mean 80 00:05:57.509 --> 00:06:00.069 it brings tear smies just thinking of it, because Mary did you know? 81 00:06:00.269 --> 00:06:03.029 Well, I don't know how much she knew. She treasured it in her 82 00:06:03.069 --> 00:06:06.019 heart, but she sure didn't know the whole story, I'm sure. Yeah, 83 00:06:06.420 --> 00:06:11.980 but that's true again, of every mom we face. You don't know. 84 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:15.579 You don't know the whole story, yeah, of what's going to happen 85 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:17.420 with that baby and what God has planned for that baby. But Anyway, 86 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:21.769 okay, Beck, because the point is that this Christmas story, this unplanned 87 00:06:21.769 --> 00:06:25.569 pregnancy story, which, yeah, at the core of the Christmas story. 88 00:06:25.649 --> 00:06:30.290 That's what it is. This this unplanned pregnancy. If a young woman and 89 00:06:30.449 --> 00:06:35.639 of course, this child that was conceived and born in a very difficult situation 90 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:41.240 becomes a redeemer of the world, that story is on the forefront of people's 91 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:45.560 minds. Their women are driving to the abortion center around this season, going 92 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:50.029 past manger scenes, yeah, going path we're with the radio own and hearing 93 00:06:50.230 --> 00:06:56.709 these songs of Jesus and the Christmas story, and so I think we would 94 00:06:56.709 --> 00:07:00.670 be fools not to, for lack of a better term, capitalize on that, 95 00:07:00.990 --> 00:07:02.980 yeah, to springboard off of that, because it's on the forefront of 96 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:08.860 their minds and the fact is they're going to remember this season if they go 97 00:07:09.019 --> 00:07:14.620 through with an abortion. They're going to remember what happened in December around Chris 98 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:18.089 Dismas two thousand and twenty one. And you know, I know women that 99 00:07:18.209 --> 00:07:23.689 have had abortions in the past. Years and years and years ago. They 100 00:07:23.850 --> 00:07:28.290 remember those abortions, but especially when they can really put a marker in time. 101 00:07:28.410 --> 00:07:31.160 That was around Christmas, and just looking back to that, I mean 102 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:34.040 that's that's a reality. And so, you know, I think we'd be 103 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:38.680 fools not to capitalize on that, springboard off of that, yeah, and 104 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:43.319 to encourage these women to help save them from the destruction that abortion brings, 105 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:47.829 to step out boldly, to use Mary as an example of a young woman 106 00:07:47.870 --> 00:07:53.949 who was scared, pregnant in a world that was really against her and not 107 00:07:54.230 --> 00:07:59.500 really very helpful to her. But yet she stood firm and stood strong. 108 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:03.339 Yeah, because she did, in the sight of God, what was the 109 00:08:03.420 --> 00:08:05.379 right thing to do. And so springboard off that encourage these women to do 110 00:08:05.500 --> 00:08:09.980 the same, I think is a very powerful way to help them to it 111 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:13.529 is. That's less number one for all of you listening. Don't neglect the 112 00:08:13.610 --> 00:08:18.970 the this gift of the Christmas story. Yeah, to be able to talk 113 00:08:18.009 --> 00:08:22.170 to the women, I go all the way back to when I'm starting to 114 00:08:22.250 --> 00:08:26.089 talk about the Christmas story with without at the abortion center. I go back 115 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:31.519 to Elizabeth, who in Luke One Elizabeth is Mary's cousin. She and her 116 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:37.000 husband, Sechariah, cannot have any children. She's barren. It great disgrace 117 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:41.669 and sorrow in in her eyes. And and you know, the angel comes 118 00:08:41.710 --> 00:08:46.990 to John and and or, I'm sorry, comes to Zechariah and says your 119 00:08:48.149 --> 00:08:52.029 wife is going to bear a child and and he's going to be John The 120 00:08:52.149 --> 00:08:58.700 baptist. Yeah, but but like some of the things that he is told, 121 00:08:58.179 --> 00:09:05.860 that Zachariah is told of what, what is going to happen with this 122 00:09:05.059 --> 00:09:13.889 baby? One of them that I honestly don't recall ever really grasping the magnitude 123 00:09:13.889 --> 00:09:18.330 of what this means is in verse fifteen when he says, for he will 124 00:09:18.370 --> 00:09:20.409 be great in the side of the Lord, he would drink no wine or 125 00:09:20.450 --> 00:09:24.519 liquor. He's talking now about baby liquor. When version of the scriptures that 126 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:28.720 head. I'm sorry, I'm probably an ASB. Okay, he will drink 127 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:33.080 no wine or liquor and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet 128 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:39.029 in his mother's womb. Okay, that struck me like a ton of rocks. 129 00:09:39.029 --> 00:09:41.190 Yeah, to today. I think I read it this morning and I 130 00:09:41.309 --> 00:09:46.629 used it when I was speaking with the women today, because, I mean, 131 00:09:46.909 --> 00:09:54.500 this tells you unequivocally, while yet unborn, the Holy Spirit can enter 132 00:09:56.460 --> 00:10:00.700 a child, a baby in the womb. Yeah, and we're killing these 133 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:05.100 babies. Yeah. So to me this is one of the first powerful verses. 134 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:09.889 Yeah, that that I would go to, that an unborn baby can 135 00:10:09.970 --> 00:10:15.129 be filled with the Holy Spirit. And then the next verse is where are 136 00:10:15.129 --> 00:10:18.009 a couple verses later, in verse Seventeen, where John is going to be 137 00:10:18.610 --> 00:10:22.799 of the forerunner, of the Messiah, and he's come, going to come 138 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:28.679 in the spirit of Elijah and he's going to turn people back to the Lord. 139 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:33.159 But then also, it says in verse Seventeen, to turn the hearts 140 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:39.509 of the father's back to the children and the disobedient to the attitude of the 141 00:10:39.549 --> 00:10:45.190 righteous. Yeah. So again the where are the hearts of the fathers as 142 00:10:45.230 --> 00:10:48.190 you're standing in front of an abortion center? Yeah, well, they're certainly 143 00:10:48.950 --> 00:10:54.899 often time's not for their children there, toward themselves. Yeah. Yeah, 144 00:10:54.419 --> 00:11:01.059 so I citing that verse and talking about the purpose, one of the purposes 145 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:05.289 of John, the unborn baby. He's already being told, as father's being 146 00:11:05.409 --> 00:11:09.690 told, while he's yet unborn, this is his purpose. He already has 147 00:11:09.730 --> 00:11:16.970 been assigned a purpose by God. Yeah, another really important point. Yeah, 148 00:11:16.169 --> 00:11:20.080 because, like you're pointing out, in the Christmas story we certainly have 149 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:26.279 the the preborn baby Jesus, but we also have preborn baby John in the 150 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:31.950 womb, this forerunner of Jesus. This is really if you want to look 151 00:11:31.950 --> 00:11:35.909 at the scripture with the scripture has to say a about unborn children, the 152 00:11:35.950 --> 00:11:39.470 Christmas story is the best place to look. I think. I mean all 153 00:11:39.549 --> 00:11:43.909 through the Bible, you see God gives value to human beings and and all 154 00:11:43.950 --> 00:11:46.500 of that. But even in that Luke passage, I know we pointed out 155 00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:52.500 this before, that were that's used for infant is breathos right, and it's 156 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:58.779 the same word that use later on in Luke to apply to like infants outside 157 00:11:58.820 --> 00:12:01.210 the womb or even little children. So it's the same word. said the 158 00:12:01.250 --> 00:12:07.809 unborn baby John, use the baby Jesus born breakfast. Yeah, both means 159 00:12:09.289 --> 00:12:13.009 baby. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So there's there's no distinction that God 160 00:12:13.169 --> 00:12:16.720 gives that God doesn't like we do. I say we as a society. 161 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:22.200 We apply the term fetus to a preborn child and infant to a child that's 162 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:26.960 been born. Right in the scriptures, in the New Testament, there's an 163 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:31.909 equivalent. It's equivalent term, right, breafos, right, and so we 164 00:12:31.950 --> 00:12:33.509 see right there, if we get into the language of it, that's not 165 00:12:33.750 --> 00:12:37.470 necessarily something and I think you could in a oneone conversation with a woman going 166 00:12:37.549 --> 00:12:39.950 in. You could lay that truth out for her and I would encourage you, 167 00:12:39.950 --> 00:12:43.110 guys, if you're kind of puzzled by what I'm even talking about, 168 00:12:43.149 --> 00:12:48.860 dig into the Greek that is used in the gospel of Luke in particular, 169 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:54.379 and the word that the Greek words that are used to talk about a baby 170 00:12:54.460 --> 00:12:56.940 inside the womb. Again, it's the same Greek word that's used for a 171 00:12:56.980 --> 00:13:00.169 baby outside the whom. Again you, I think you could break it down 172 00:13:00.330 --> 00:13:01.570 and share that if you got in depth with a mom going in to the 173 00:13:01.570 --> 00:13:05.169 abortion center and you can share that. I think it could be a powerful 174 00:13:05.169 --> 00:13:07.210 truth. Yeah, but more than anything, the most powerful truth of this 175 00:13:07.250 --> 00:13:13.759 is the redemption that God brought through that unplanned pregnancy. And I'll say that 176 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.600 often times Mary had an unplanned I do use air quotes because it was not 177 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:20.000 unplanned according to God. It's a matter of fact. There are no unplanned 178 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:24.159 pregnancies according to God. Right, he knows the infant beginny. Yeah, 179 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:28.830 but according to US and according to our thinking, that was unplanned. And 180 00:13:28.909 --> 00:13:33.190 yet God brought redemption out of that situation. And so many of these women 181 00:13:33.309 --> 00:13:37.110 going into the abortion center they're scared and they're thinking, how could any good 182 00:13:37.190 --> 00:13:39.990 come out of this situation? God brought good out of that situation, the 183 00:13:41.110 --> 00:13:45.059 greatest good ever. The son of God came to this earth, lived a 184 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:48.379 sinless life, ultimately healed the sick and raise the dead, died for the 185 00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:50.820 sins of the world and then was rose from the grave. Now, of 186 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:54.980 course their baby is not going to do those things because their baby's not the 187 00:13:54.019 --> 00:14:00.370 son of God. But that that awesome redemptive story came out of this unplanned 188 00:14:00.409 --> 00:14:05.730 pregnancy. If God could do that, he could do in your life a 189 00:14:05.889 --> 00:14:09.129 similar thing. He could bring redemption that child. We say to the MOMS, 190 00:14:09.129 --> 00:14:13.360 oftentimes that child could really open your eyes to the fact that there's something 191 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:16.200 more than what you're living for. I know that's what happened in my life 192 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:20.559 as a father, seventeen years old when our daughter was born, and so 193 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:24.200 I'll say that to the men. That was an unplanned pregnancy that God used 194 00:14:24.389 --> 00:14:26.909 open my eyes to the reality of there were something more the world I was 195 00:14:26.950 --> 00:14:31.029 living for and so I think springboarding off the Christmas story in that way is 196 00:14:31.070 --> 00:14:35.230 a very powerful way to help something's already on the forefront of their mind, 197 00:14:35.269 --> 00:14:41.100 the Christmas story, Christmas season and all that stuff, and and to kind 198 00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:45.700 of roll with it and share this story has application to your life right now, 199 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:48.419 right, and looks. So look at your story. I know when 200 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:54.529 you probably first heard that your wife was pregnant, and probably part of the 201 00:14:54.929 --> 00:14:58.409 overwhelming emotion that filled you was fear. Yeah, right, yeah, and 202 00:14:58.529 --> 00:15:01.570 of course she was not my wife at that time. No, that's right. 203 00:15:01.929 --> 00:15:05.970 I've shared my story before. So you guys hopefully no, but yeah, 204 00:15:05.970 --> 00:15:09.600 we were high school sweethearts. She was fifteen, I was seventeen when 205 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:13.440 she got pregnant, and that's young. That, that's young. That's scary. 206 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:16.519 So so I'm sure you were filled with terror, probably terror. My 207 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:20.919 life is over, right, and you've shared that before. Well, again, 208 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:26.070 here's another, I think, really critical parallel between Mary and as she 209 00:15:26.309 --> 00:15:30.350 as the angels telling her, guess what, you're going to have the sun, 210 00:15:30.389 --> 00:15:31.909 a God your we're I'm gonna be you know, you're going to be 211 00:15:33.110 --> 00:15:37.659 impregnated and by the spirit of God. And Yeah, anyway, the angel 212 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:43.059 says to her do not be afraid. Yeah, so the angel wouldn't have 213 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:48.259 needed to say that if Mary had been, you know, boldly saying confidently, 214 00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:52.970 well, yeah, I can do this, no problem. That's probably 215 00:15:52.049 --> 00:15:56.889 not. Her emotion must have been one of fear. Naturally, that is 216 00:15:56.970 --> 00:16:00.649 just what any fifteen year old, fourteenyear old, would experience when they're told 217 00:16:02.009 --> 00:16:06.039 that you're about to have a baby. That and and she's she's in shock, 218 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:10.480 she's obviously scared. And the angel in the Christmas story, the Angel 219 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:12.879 Comes, I. I don't know if it's Gabriel each time, but four 220 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:18.509 different times the angel comes to four different groups or people, and the word 221 00:16:18.710 --> 00:16:23.990 every time that the angel says is do not be afraid, or fear not. 222 00:16:25.710 --> 00:16:29.710 And you think about MOMS coming to an abortion center. Without a doubt, 223 00:16:30.029 --> 00:16:38.940 fear is fueling their decisions and fear muddies your rational mind and and takes 224 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:44.779 over so that you make stupid choices. Yeah, so the angel points out 225 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:47.929 to marry, as I think we need to point out to these MOMS, 226 00:16:48.610 --> 00:16:52.210 don't let fear be what rules you. Yeah, let me tell you what 227 00:16:52.450 --> 00:16:56.610 is going to happen. What that there is a planet and a purpose for 228 00:16:56.730 --> 00:17:03.240 this incredible child. Yeah, and God is with you. In fact, 229 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:06.880 that's what Emmanuel means, is God is with us. And Mary is told 230 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:11.599 that she has found favor with God. And but but the angel lays out 231 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:15.589 that there is a purpose and I think in general terms we can lay out 232 00:17:15.869 --> 00:17:18.750 to these women don't be afraid, don't let fear rule you right now. 233 00:17:19.230 --> 00:17:25.069 And there is an unbelievable purpose her, for this child in your well, 234 00:17:25.230 --> 00:17:29.069 we don't know what it is, but you'll never know what it is if 235 00:17:29.109 --> 00:17:33.859 you take that child's life today. Yeah, yeah, talking about Mary's fear. 236 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:38.099 Yeah, she had, I mean not just because she was going to 237 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:41.700 be a young woman that was pregnant, but she had a lot to be 238 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:45.049 afraid of in her day and age, right. I mean you think people 239 00:17:45.049 --> 00:17:48.089 are marginalized now who are pregnant outside of marriage, in those days, if 240 00:17:48.130 --> 00:17:52.130 you're pregnant outside of marriage, not only could you be marginalized and rejected by 241 00:17:52.210 --> 00:17:56.529 your community, but you could also be stone to death, right, and 242 00:17:56.809 --> 00:18:00.599 she definitely was in danger that because she's not married to Joseph, but she 243 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:06.960 is engaged to him and in that time period and engagement was the same in 244 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:11.400 terms of the commitment yeah, and so, in the eyes of the people, 245 00:18:12.309 --> 00:18:17.910 she would have committed adultery. Yeah, against Joseph and and yeah, 246 00:18:17.990 --> 00:18:22.190 the penalty was her adopteus. She Sven stoned to death, been stone today. 247 00:18:22.630 --> 00:18:26.420 Beyond that, of course, she had the rejection of society. Like 248 00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:30.460 you didn't get pregnant outside of marriage in those days. Right, this is 249 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:34.539 not a common thing. Right, and so she had that. She had 250 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:41.890 obviously she had to try to explain this situation. However, by God's grace 251 00:18:41.970 --> 00:18:47.329 and mercy, the Lord sent an angel to explain that situation to the most 252 00:18:47.329 --> 00:18:51.369 important person in the scenario, which was Joseph. And he was a righteous 253 00:18:51.410 --> 00:18:55.170 man and he did the right thing, which, unfortunately, is not the 254 00:18:55.250 --> 00:18:57.720 case for many of the the men that get these women pregnant of the abortion 255 00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:03.039 centers are not righteous. Right, and this is where the parallel does yeah, 256 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:06.920 it doesn't act. Obviously she these are not righteous women that are going 257 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.759 to kill their baby and they're not righteous men. Yeah, but a lot 258 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:14.509 of the emotions that they're experiencing, definitely, I think you can be paid. 259 00:19:14.549 --> 00:19:18.069 Absolutely, yeah, and in God's a redeemer. Yeah, I think 260 00:19:18.069 --> 00:19:21.670 we always need to bring the story back around the Christmas store back around to 261 00:19:21.750 --> 00:19:26.660 the point that God's a redeemer and God can redeem your situation if you trust 262 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:30.299 in him. Yeah, you know, I think talking about you know, 263 00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:33.380 talking about families, some of the things I'll often say is you're going to 264 00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:37.859 be around the Christmas tree with your family? Are you going to be around 265 00:19:37.859 --> 00:19:44.289 the Christmas table, sharing with your family but hiding this secret right that you're 266 00:19:44.329 --> 00:19:47.730 carrying with you? Yeah, now, on the flip side of that, 267 00:19:47.769 --> 00:19:49.809 if you continue this pregnancy, obviously there's going to be you're gonna have to 268 00:19:49.890 --> 00:19:53.319 share that you're pregnant. That's going to come out. But how much more, 269 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:56.599 if you trust the Lord and do what he says and what honors him, 270 00:19:57.319 --> 00:20:03.480 will he help bring peace in the midst of that situation in this season? 271 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:06.720 Then, if you were to take matters in your own hands and have 272 00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:10.710 to explain to your family, because it may come out, yeah, that 273 00:20:10.990 --> 00:20:14.589 you've had an abortion, like man that's in again around this season. How 274 00:20:14.829 --> 00:20:19.549 how, how dark and how devastating is that to a young lady? Yeah, 275 00:20:21.190 --> 00:20:22.740 I love that you use that word peace. That was one of the 276 00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:30.539 things I talked about today because you know, you can very legitimately make the 277 00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:33.740 point to the women at an abortion center that they are not feeling peace. 278 00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:38.450 I guarantee they're not. And yet here we are in a season that celebrates 279 00:20:38.529 --> 00:20:42.890 peace on earth. Well, you can't have peace when you are in direct 280 00:20:42.970 --> 00:20:48.690 rebellion against God. But that peace is available, yeah, when you turn 281 00:20:48.809 --> 00:20:52.400 back to him and turn to him. Yeah, I think of the I 282 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:55.799 share often times. It's from the gospel of Luke, the proclamation of the 283 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:59.640 angels when they come in the field there they know. They were shepherds watching 284 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:02.200 over their flocks by night. We know the story right. And then the 285 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:07.509 angel comes, or the angels come in appear and say peace on Earth, 286 00:21:07.630 --> 00:21:10.829 goodwill toward men, like God wants to bring peace. God has a good 287 00:21:11.069 --> 00:21:14.589 will, and I will share this with the women and with the men, 288 00:21:15.069 --> 00:21:18.619 that you think that right now God doesn't know what he's doing because you're pregnant. 289 00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:21.539 Like God, why did you allow this? Yeah, but you have 290 00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:25.940 to trust that God has a good will towards you. God ultimately has a 291 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:27.859 good will toward all of you, manity. He wants good for us, 292 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:33.609 even in the midst of our sin. That's what Jesus came to redeem lost 293 00:21:33.690 --> 00:21:37.450 human beings. So let's put our trust in God's good will toward man, 294 00:21:37.569 --> 00:21:41.849 peace on earth, good will toward men. Let's put our trust in him 295 00:21:41.849 --> 00:21:45.690 rather than in things like abortion and which don't bring peace and don't have a 296 00:21:45.730 --> 00:21:49.599 good will. All the will that Plant parenthood or the abortion industry has toward 297 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:53.400 these women and toward these babies is a dollar sign right. They don't have 298 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:57.680 a good desire, they are ultimately trying to make money, but God does 299 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:02.269 have a good will toward them. So kind of contrasting that and helping them 300 00:22:02.349 --> 00:22:06.470 to see through the Christmas story, God has their best in mind, even 301 00:22:06.470 --> 00:22:10.430 in the midst of a very difficult situation, and I love how you kind 302 00:22:10.430 --> 00:22:15.740 of give this summary of the Christmas story and then help them to your painting 303 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:18.420 a vision for them. I think in a lot of a lot of how 304 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:22.859 you and I think that's true of your nature in general, and what I 305 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:26.859 often will do is go back to like some of the specifics that I see 306 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:30.930 a different approach. I love your vision painting. I think it's really really 307 00:22:32.009 --> 00:22:37.130 important and beautiful. But one of the things again, that that I think 308 00:22:37.329 --> 00:22:45.680 is really fascinating in the story about Elizabeth and Mary and they as they're bearing 309 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:48.920 these unborn children that are going to change the world, Baby John and and 310 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:56.680 baby Jesus. And Mary goes to visit Elizabeth for I think three months. 311 00:22:56.759 --> 00:23:00.630 She stays with her cousin and it says that when, when Elizabeth, when 312 00:23:00.750 --> 00:23:07.309 Mary enters the room, Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit. In Verse Forty 313 00:23:07.390 --> 00:23:11.109 Four says for behold, when the sound of your reading reached my ears, 314 00:23:11.230 --> 00:23:15.059 the baby leaped in my womb for joy. I will talk about that a 315 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:18.740 lot again because I'm thinking about one of our key talking points, of our 316 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:25.059 three talking points, is humanity of the baby, and here's a unborn baby 317 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:30.089 that's described as leaping for joy. Yeah, in the womb. So it 318 00:23:30.250 --> 00:23:37.289 shows showing the humanity of that unborn child. I think that's amazing. But 319 00:23:37.410 --> 00:23:41.680 another thing that I will say and that I think is expressed in this verse 320 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:48.759 is really the the first one to greet Jesus was an unborn baby, this 321 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:55.750 unborn baby greeting, leaping for joy, the unborn baby Jesus, knowing the 322 00:23:55.829 --> 00:24:00.430 presence of the unborn baby Jesus. So it's the unborn meeting the or died. 323 00:24:00.549 --> 00:24:03.789 Mean they didn't, I guess, technically meet. There was a womb 324 00:24:03.869 --> 00:24:06.990 between them the skin, but, but, but, but, you get 325 00:24:07.069 --> 00:24:10.460 my pointully, some kind of connection going on there. There was a connection 326 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:14.980 that that baby knew that this was his Lord coming in into the room and 327 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:18.579 thereby, according to the scripture, humanizing the baby in the womb is not 328 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:22.019 just a blob of tissue or clumb of sales, but a human being that's 329 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:26.250 capable of, like you said, being full of the Holy Spirit. Yeah, 330 00:24:26.329 --> 00:24:30.369 capable of responding to a spiritual experience here with the son of God being 331 00:24:30.410 --> 00:24:33.490 in the same room. Yeah, and a baby leaping in the womb. 332 00:24:34.369 --> 00:24:38.039 One of the prayers that we often pray in love life, as we're doing 333 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:41.119 our when our journeys with pastors, bringing them out to the abortion center, 334 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:44.559 having them pray in front of the abortion center, or we're bringing our prayer 335 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:48.599 groups out, is we pray specifically, just like John Leapt in Elizabeth's womb, 336 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:52.470 we pray that those babies would leap in their mother's womb. And we've 337 00:24:52.470 --> 00:24:56.630 actually had a story not too long ago, is couple of months ago, 338 00:24:56.990 --> 00:25:00.069 where a young lady was inside the abortion center and she was on the the 339 00:25:00.309 --> 00:25:03.630 table, not the operating table, but she was on the table get an 340 00:25:03.630 --> 00:25:06.670 ultra sound and if you remember the story, but she felt her baby. 341 00:25:06.670 --> 00:25:08.900 I think she was eighteen weeks or something. He was still within the range 342 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:12.059 of being able to have the abortion and she felt her baby. That was 343 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:17.339 the first, first time. Yeah, she felt her baby was inside the 344 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:22.329 womb, inside of the abortion center, right, and she came out ended, 345 00:25:22.369 --> 00:25:25.210 up coming on board the MOBILTRA sound unit, chose life. Yeah, 346 00:25:25.329 --> 00:25:26.730 and so that was an answer to prayer and it's kind of like this is 347 00:25:26.809 --> 00:25:30.170 what we pray about. Yeah, and this is that again, that Christmas 348 00:25:30.210 --> 00:25:33.849 story, and here it comes to life in a sense, right in front 349 00:25:33.849 --> 00:25:36.640 of us. Yeah, and it's amazing just how God uses that, that 350 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:41.839 that prayer out of that story. Yeah, it's so beautiful. And and 351 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:45.319 that picture of the unborn baby John Leaping in the womb for joy as the 352 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:49.910 unborn baby Jesus enters the room with his you know, inside of his mother 353 00:25:49.990 --> 00:25:56.869 Mary, I think points to a very basic, important truth that God is 354 00:25:56.069 --> 00:26:00.269 pointing out the value of the unborn. I mean at its most basic level. 355 00:26:00.309 --> 00:26:04.500 If you think about the Christmas story, Jesus could have come to earth 356 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:07.980 in any form, didn't even need to be human. But but let's say 357 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:11.700 he'd God, for very good reason, sends him as a human being. 358 00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:15.619 He didn't need to come as an unborn yeah, child, he could have 359 00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:18.650 comment, but I don't know, right at birth, if that was the 360 00:26:18.730 --> 00:26:22.690 point at which humanity matters. He could have come as a thirty year old 361 00:26:22.690 --> 00:26:26.930 or even as a twenty year old and he could have had all those more 362 00:26:26.009 --> 00:26:32.450 years of maybe ministry if he comes fully formed and God has already fed into 363 00:26:32.450 --> 00:26:37.160 him in his growing up period. But he comes as an unborn baby. 364 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:41.279 Yeah, and I think that is an amazing point. And to point that 365 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:48.190 out to women. God, our creator, our Savior, the savior of 366 00:26:48.269 --> 00:26:52.230 the world, came as an unborn baby. What does that say about God's 367 00:26:52.869 --> 00:26:59.470 valuing of the unborn? Yeah, and of when life begins? Yeah, 368 00:26:59.710 --> 00:27:03.420 yeah. I won't dig too deep in to this because it's not your point, 369 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:07.180 but I will say that Jesus did have to come as a human being. 370 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:10.940 MMM. But I will agree with your point that he could have come 371 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:15.579 as a full grown human being, could have come as a right toddler or 372 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:18.930 whatever. Yeah, but to save human beings he had to come as a 373 00:27:19.009 --> 00:27:25.329 human being and we see that in the Christmas story and that's that's the amazing 374 00:27:25.490 --> 00:27:32.440 reality, and that's why I love the Christmas songs that talk about Jesus again. 375 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:34.079 Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel. I mean, guys, I 376 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:38.759 Woan't encourage you through this seasons. Actually listen to the songs. Yeah, 377 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:47.109 because there's so much depth to them. Joy to the world. Listen to 378 00:27:47.150 --> 00:27:52.910 the words of that song. He came to make his blessings known far as 379 00:27:52.990 --> 00:27:56.150 the curses found. It's talking about the curse of sin and Jesus coming to 380 00:27:56.349 --> 00:28:00.019 make his blessings on my word. In that right, I think I'm learning. 381 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:03.980 I kind of you know, as we are seeing those verses. Yeah, 382 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:07.339 which is kind of sad. We only sing the main important we first, 383 00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:11.059 like your first and forth or whatever. Yeah, but listen to the 384 00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:15.289 songs as as they're being play I'll tell you also, maybe this is for 385 00:28:15.369 --> 00:28:18.009 you guys to if you haven't heard this song before, it's a powerful song 386 00:28:18.089 --> 00:28:23.970 and it's kind of a modern song, though it's from casting crowns and Gosh, 387 00:28:25.089 --> 00:28:27.839 what's the name of the song? I'm want to look up the name 388 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:30.720 of the song, but it is so powerful because they talked about in that 389 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:37.799 particular song about how we've embraced the philosophy of Save the trees and kill the 390 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:42.509 children. You're that song. If I do, I'm blanking on it. 391 00:28:42.910 --> 00:28:45.869 Yeah, it's good. I'M gonna before we're done with this episode, I'm 392 00:28:45.910 --> 00:28:48.750 going to share that. That's a powerful song. Yeah, but I'm just 393 00:28:48.910 --> 00:28:52.990 want to encourage you guys, as you're kind of going through the Christmas season. 394 00:28:53.230 --> 00:28:56.579 Don't let these, the power of these songs and the depth that's in 395 00:28:56.660 --> 00:29:00.779 these songs, in the depth of the reality of what took place when Jesus 396 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:04.500 came into this world, slip through your fingers and get lost in all the 397 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:11.170 you know, Santa Claus and gingerbread and sprawls, the snow man and all 398 00:29:11.329 --> 00:29:15.329 that stuff, and Miss Jesus in the midst of it. Certainly we don't 399 00:29:15.329 --> 00:29:18.849 want these women to Miss Jesus, but let us also not Miss Jesus. 400 00:29:18.849 --> 00:29:21.690 And the name of the song. I just looked it up, okay, 401 00:29:21.769 --> 00:29:23.680 as I was, yeah, talking. It's called why you were while you 402 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:26.480 were sleeping. Oh, it's so powerful. You should have let's do it 403 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:30.799 when we leave today from recording this. Why should listen to it, while 404 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:33.240 I'll use sleep, while you were sleepy. Yes, it's so good, 405 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:37.240 so powerful. Yeah, but yeah, these songs again, these songs are 406 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:41.269 on the forefront of these women's minds to they're listening to them, probably has 407 00:29:41.309 --> 00:29:45.029 they're going to the abortions and they're probably not thinking of the true meaning of 408 00:29:45.109 --> 00:29:48.829 those words. And if you point them out, you know, listen to 409 00:29:48.990 --> 00:29:55.579 this phrase from this song and then you read these verses from especially Luke. 410 00:29:56.380 --> 00:30:00.940 I just happen to really loved Luke. But pointing out God's love of the 411 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:03.339 unborn, which is so clear. Yeah, and yeah, in the Christmas 412 00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:07.410 story, I think it it can make a powerful impact on these women. 413 00:30:07.650 --> 00:30:12.009 Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, another thing I want to mention that I thought 414 00:30:12.130 --> 00:30:15.009 was pretty cool we've actually done in the past and we're actually going to wrap 415 00:30:15.049 --> 00:30:19.809 up here in just a minute. Okay, is Christmas carely? Yeah, 416 00:30:19.930 --> 00:30:23.519 it's kind of weird, you think, singing Christmas songs in front of the 417 00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:29.359 abortion center, and not every scenario lends itself to that. I don't think 418 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:32.599 out here at Latrobe is probably the best place to do it with these crazy 419 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:34.480 pro abortion people, but I know some of our team in New York. 420 00:30:36.190 --> 00:30:40.069 I'd seen some things where they were doing Christmas carol singing Christmas carols in front 421 00:30:40.069 --> 00:30:41.069 of the abortion center. Yeah, and I think we have to do it, 422 00:30:41.150 --> 00:30:45.990 obviously with with a somberness, you know, a seriousness there, right, 423 00:30:45.390 --> 00:30:49.019 but I do think maybe you have the ability to play Christmas songs on 424 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:52.420 some kind of amplified sound as long as it doesn't drowned out your voices and 425 00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:59.259 you can still be heard playing some of these Christmas songs over a sound system. 426 00:30:59.380 --> 00:31:03.650 Singing Christmas carols, could really, really awaken the conscience of some of 427 00:31:03.650 --> 00:31:08.170 these women going into the abortion center because these songs in this Christmas story is 428 00:31:08.250 --> 00:31:12.329 so powerful, it's so redemptive, and so will encourage you, guys. 429 00:31:14.369 --> 00:31:17.690 I don't want to I don't want to encourage you to manipulate. We're not 430 00:31:17.730 --> 00:31:22.359 talking about manipulation. We're talking about springboarding off of this reality that's on the 431 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:26.759 forefront of people's minds to help speak the truth and save lives. Well, 432 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:30.839 we're Gospel centered pro life ministry and that's what this podcast is all about, 433 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:34.150 as using the Gospel. And this is the Gospel, this is this is 434 00:31:34.390 --> 00:31:38.509 the story of the birth of Our Lord and save here and the faith of 435 00:31:38.789 --> 00:31:45.509 some really wonderful characters, and I think we we need to to use these 436 00:31:45.630 --> 00:31:52.619 powerful verses to help women to really think about the parallel between their own situation 437 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:57.500 and their own baby and God's plan and purpose. Yeah, and then Mary 438 00:31:57.779 --> 00:32:04.609 and her baby and his glorious plan and purpose. Yeah, Amen. Amen. 439 00:32:05.210 --> 00:32:07.329 Well, guys, we appreciate you listening and we'd appreciate, as always, 440 00:32:07.369 --> 00:32:12.250 if you would share this podcast episode with others. Also, we'd appreciate 441 00:32:12.329 --> 00:32:15.529 if you'd reach out to us let us know if you have suggestions for future 442 00:32:15.529 --> 00:32:17.160 podcast that we can do. Maybe you have a word of encouragement, maybe 443 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:21.480 you were blessed by one of the episodes, maybe you're blessed by this episode. 444 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:23.200 Let us know when to hear from you. You can reach out to 445 00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:27.920 me, Daniel at Love Life Dot Org. You reach her Vicky at Love 446 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:30.549 Life Dot Org. And until next time, God bless God, bless you 447 00:32:30.710 --> 00:32:38.869 all, and Merry Christmas, Mary, Christmas. Give our love for love. 448 00:32:43.589 --> 00:32:52.019 Give me our love for gratitude. I know it will cost me my 449 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:59.769 life. Nothing's too precious in some you