How To Stay Engaged on the Sidewalk

WEBVTT100:00:00.120 --> 00:00:03.839We think about the rapture in theblast of the trumpet when Jesus Returns.200:00:03.960 --> 00:00:08.189But what if it's a boring dayon the sidewalk of an abortion center?300:00:08.429 --> 00:00:11.669Nothing's going on, you're thinking,Oh Gosh, why I'm even here,400:00:11.830 --> 00:00:16.230and all of a sudden you hearthe trumpet blast and Jesus Returns. We're500:00:16.390 --> 00:00:20.390better to be found right and standingin front of an abortion clar yeah,600:00:20.550 --> 00:00:23.460I mean can the with the sonof man when he returns? Will he700:00:23.539 --> 00:00:29.420found faith on the earth? Not? Will he find excitement and enthusiasm and800:00:30.339 --> 00:00:33.460you know somebody that can argue agood point with a pro board, but900:00:33.500 --> 00:00:38.890will he find faith? I AmYours, I am yours, I am1000:00:39.170 --> 00:00:44.369yours. And Me, Lord,I am yours, I am yours.1100:00:44.850 --> 00:00:49.969I'm welcome to the Gospel Center ProLife Podcast, a podcast designed to equip,1200:00:50.600 --> 00:00:55.000encourage and challenge you in pro lifeministry and always were the focus on1300:00:55.039 --> 00:01:03.679the Gospel. Stay tuned. Ifelt show passish, touch your heart,1400:01:03.469 --> 00:01:14.909use me love. Hey, they'rewelcome to the Gospel centered pro life podcast.1500:01:15.829 --> 00:01:19.939We are here with WHO? I'mhere with Daniel Parks, who,1600:01:19.420 --> 00:01:25.019Yay, is back in Charlotte.Yes, happy to have him back and,1700:01:25.980 --> 00:01:32.140as always, this subject which wasone that kind of arose from practical1800:01:32.260 --> 00:01:36.930things we experienced while being out onthe sidewalk. One of those is is1900:01:37.530 --> 00:01:42.769that there are many times when yousee nothing happening, no fruit, apparent,2000:01:44.209 --> 00:01:49.000apparently no fruit you yourself or ina position where there's not many women2100:01:49.359 --> 00:01:53.640coming in and out, no one'stalking to you. Frankly, it's boring.2200:01:53.640 --> 00:01:59.400Yeah, and so how do westay engaged during those times? Because2300:01:59.439 --> 00:02:02.430those times are going to come wherethere's not a parent action and I think2400:02:02.469 --> 00:02:07.189it is very we just we havelost people. I no doubt they've told2500:02:07.270 --> 00:02:13.310me we've lost him because they're bored. Yeah, which kind of boggles my2600:02:13.469 --> 00:02:16.460mind. But I think because Ido have the perspective of being out there2700:02:16.500 --> 00:02:24.219for many years and it's never boringfor me, and I hope that we2800:02:24.419 --> 00:02:30.889will give you an idea of strategiesin this podcast for how you can stay2900:02:31.009 --> 00:02:35.250engage. So that really isn't thethought that comes in your mind. I'm3000:02:35.250 --> 00:02:38.250so bored, right. Yeah,yeah, I mean most people are thinking3100:02:38.289 --> 00:02:42.969about especially if you haven't ever beenout to an abortion center and you're thinking3200:02:42.969 --> 00:02:46.039about going out there, your concernedprobably is like I'm going to be overwhelmed3300:02:46.039 --> 00:02:50.039because they're going to be so muchstuff coming. There's going to be you3400:02:50.280 --> 00:02:53.240hear US talking about these pro abortionpeople out there yelling at you. You3500:02:53.560 --> 00:02:57.439maybe got the women coming into theabortion centering droves and you thinking that's going3600:02:57.479 --> 00:03:00.509to overwhelm you. And all thisstuff is happening in certainly that can be3700:03:00.629 --> 00:03:05.030the case. Yeah, but thereare also times when there's not a whole3800:03:05.110 --> 00:03:09.229lot going on. Yeah, there'sno real interactions with anybody. Maybe the3900:03:09.270 --> 00:03:13.060parking lot's kind of barely full,or maybe it's really I mean there are4000:03:13.060 --> 00:03:15.780days where the parking lots really full, when there's just no engagement, no4100:03:15.900 --> 00:03:20.340one stopping and talking right, noone's even cussing you out. Yeah,4200:03:20.580 --> 00:03:24.979and so there are times when it'sjust there's a temptation at least, or4300:03:25.060 --> 00:03:29.770you're just bored. You're just youfeel like you're just standing on a sidewalk4400:03:30.449 --> 00:03:32.689in in front of a building andthere's not a whole lot of act that4500:03:32.770 --> 00:03:37.210things happening. And you know,could be the position that your team has4600:03:37.289 --> 00:03:40.289placed you. And we do havepositions that I guess are technically more boring.4700:03:40.439 --> 00:03:45.840There just they're up the street carsmay or may not stop for the4800:03:45.919 --> 00:03:50.520people, and so they will havelong periods of time of just zero interaction4900:03:50.560 --> 00:03:54.039and they don't see a soul.So what what do we do? And5000:03:54.520 --> 00:03:59.189I do want to make the pointthat first of all, we admit it's5100:03:59.229 --> 00:04:02.870not easy. It is not easywhen you're not in getting any kind of5200:04:03.069 --> 00:04:08.830traction, you're not getting any engagementwith anyone. And and all of us5300:04:08.870 --> 00:04:12.099want to be heroes, I thinkbottom line, we do. We want5400:04:12.139 --> 00:04:15.659to be a hero before God,we want to be used by God and5500:04:15.860 --> 00:04:18.980and we want to be where theaction is. And I just I want5600:04:19.019 --> 00:04:23.980to say it is okay to desirethat. But what do you do when,5700:04:24.569 --> 00:04:27.529in the article that I put out, I said when, when the5800:04:27.810 --> 00:04:31.610sidewalk ministry in your area is moreof a slog than a jog, in5900:04:31.769 --> 00:04:35.970other words, it's just it?And there are some whole areas sometimes,6000:04:36.009 --> 00:04:42.480I mean there are some of oursidewalk missionaries that really are in a very6100:04:42.519 --> 00:04:47.040quiet, small abortion center where it'shard to reach the women. Yeah,6200:04:47.279 --> 00:04:53.629and they really do have minimal interaction. Yeah, I'll tell you, sometimes6300:04:53.670 --> 00:04:58.310it's well, for me at least, it's easier when it is loud and6400:04:58.750 --> 00:05:01.790rock us out there and I'm gettingyelled at by pro boards. Then when6500:05:01.790 --> 00:05:05.709there's nothing going on, yeah,and I'm up the street holding a sign6600:05:05.750 --> 00:05:11.060or offering literature and there's no engagement, it's like yeah, for me that6700:05:11.980 --> 00:05:15.420that's a time of testing. Itis, and by God's grace of pass6800:05:15.540 --> 00:05:23.170the test, I've learned to befaithful. I'm not sure how practical we're6900:05:23.170 --> 00:05:26.089going to get in this, butI'll get real practical right now, okay,7000:05:26.850 --> 00:05:30.410and just say sometimes I'll put myair pods in and I'll listen to7100:05:30.569 --> 00:05:34.839some preaching, I'll listen to theword of God and I'll pray. Yeah,7200:05:34.959 --> 00:05:38.319now I'll keep my eyes open,of course, when I'm praying and7300:05:38.879 --> 00:05:42.160I'm ready. If there's somebody that'sgoing to stop and take my information,7400:05:42.240 --> 00:05:45.079I've got it in hand. I'mready to go. And I think the7500:05:45.199 --> 00:05:49.389main point of this, of thisarticle and of this podcast episode is going7600:05:49.430 --> 00:05:56.829to be to they focused and reallyyou being there is obedience to the Lord7700:05:57.069 --> 00:06:00.310and it's important that you're there.You're holding up a standard of truth,7800:06:00.709 --> 00:06:04.339you're shining a light in a darkplace, even if there's not a lot7900:06:04.379 --> 00:06:11.139of activity there, and the momentthat someone approaches you or that someone who8000:06:11.779 --> 00:06:16.540needed to hear your word. Whenthey're there and you're there and you engage8100:06:16.620 --> 00:06:24.449with them, it is all worthevery moment of of no interaction. I8200:06:24.529 --> 00:06:31.810will tell very briefly story that justhappened where woman's was called me and was8300:06:31.879 --> 00:06:39.480very upset, in fact suicidal postaboard of and said that had there been8400:06:39.519 --> 00:06:43.720anyone on the sidewalk when she wentto kill her baby in an abortion,8500:06:44.399 --> 00:06:48.230she would not have and and nowshe deeply, deeply regretted it. And8600:06:49.310 --> 00:06:55.389that story went. It was sosad, but it really pointed out to8700:06:55.470 --> 00:07:00.189me the necessity of us being thereand if we're not there through the boring8800:07:00.269 --> 00:07:03.540moments as well or the less excitingmoments as well, we might not be8900:07:03.740 --> 00:07:09.019there when women like that show up. And then who is going to speak9000:07:09.339 --> 00:07:13.180on behalf of of her, ofher baby, and Pointer Back to God?9100:07:14.019 --> 00:07:16.449So some of the practical things Ido, because you're right, Daniel,9200:07:16.529 --> 00:07:24.769this is more almost like the philosophicalunderpinnings of how you endure ministry when9300:07:24.889 --> 00:07:27.569a whole lot is in going on. But one of the practical things I9400:07:27.730 --> 00:07:31.720do I also pray. I Ialso will read scripture on my either on9500:07:31.800 --> 00:07:35.839my iphone or I'll I've got myBible sometimes with me, not always.9600:07:36.439 --> 00:07:40.839But one of the other things Ido is I pace, I walk back9700:07:40.959 --> 00:07:45.870and forth, and that keeps memoving, just the fact that I'm moving.9800:07:45.910 --> 00:07:47.750First of all, it saves myback. It hurts to stand still9900:07:47.790 --> 00:07:51.750for three hours and I think that'strue of not only old people but also10000:07:53.509 --> 00:07:58.980but also very young and it's stillhurt your back. So I'm always doing10100:07:59.220 --> 00:08:05.060something and and I'm trying to focuson God at God while doing that.10200:08:05.660 --> 00:08:09.379But that does help me. Thathelps me rather than just standing there,10300:08:09.379 --> 00:08:13.810yeah, waiting for something to happen. But I do think, looking biblically,10400:08:16.050 --> 00:08:18.370is there anyone in the Bible thatwe could look at who had a10500:08:18.490 --> 00:08:24.209ministry that maybe could be described asnot a whole lot of action happening and10600:08:24.329 --> 00:08:28.240kind of boring and in some ways, the Ministry of Jeremiah? Yeah,10700:08:28.240 --> 00:08:35.159it fits the built. So Jeremiahministered for forty years and saw almost no10800:08:35.320 --> 00:08:39.919fruit. Yeah, almost none.He spoke to people who ignored him or10900:08:41.000 --> 00:08:45.669they did do things exciting like throwhim into assister and and, you know,11000:08:45.789 --> 00:08:50.669and and wait for him to likedrown in the mud or or starve11100:08:50.750 --> 00:08:52.710to death. So there were momentsthat were, I guess, exciting for11200:08:52.789 --> 00:08:58.700him, but a large part ofhis ministry was just speaking to people who11300:08:58.139 --> 00:09:03.100ignored him. Yeah, who didn'tlisten to him. Yeah, proclaiming the11400:09:03.220 --> 00:09:07.460Truth and not really getting a responsefrom the people. Yeah, now I'll11500:09:07.500 --> 00:09:13.289say all the Bible tells us,and Second Corinthians five or seven, we11600:09:13.450 --> 00:09:16.009walk by faith and not by sight. Yeah, great, first a lot11700:09:16.090 --> 00:09:20.129of times we want to see theresults of what we're doing. We want11800:09:20.129 --> 00:09:24.679to see that their interactions. Thinkwas John Wesley, great revivalist preacher in11900:09:24.919 --> 00:09:30.600England who actually even came to America, who said he would much rather someone12000:09:31.080 --> 00:09:33.200be cursing him, spitting at himand throwing things at him, because at12100:09:33.200 --> 00:09:37.720least he knows that they hear whathe's saying. Yeah, then someone to12200:09:37.759 --> 00:09:39.269ignore him. And I think that'sthe same for us as we're out there12300:09:39.309 --> 00:09:43.470on the sidewalk. But we haveto remember, and I'm going to say12400:09:43.509 --> 00:09:46.789this and I hope for you guyslistening it, it actually will sting a12500:09:46.830 --> 00:09:50.629little bit, okay, because it'sintended to you're not out there for you12600:09:50.110 --> 00:09:54.460right, you're not out there tofeel needed. You're not out there to12700:09:54.539 --> 00:09:58.740feel important, you're not out therejust to engage people. You're out there12800:10:00.460 --> 00:10:01.860because God called you to be outthere. If indeed he did call you12900:10:03.100 --> 00:10:05.659to be out there, and Ibelieve that that he did, if you're13000:10:05.659 --> 00:10:09.129out there, yeah, and sothink of it in those terms. Let13100:10:09.129 --> 00:10:13.169that sting you a little bit.You're not there for you. You're important,13200:10:13.450 --> 00:10:18.250you're made in the image of God, you're Christian, you belong to13300:10:18.289 --> 00:10:22.240him, you're important to the LordRight, but at the end of the13400:10:22.279 --> 00:10:24.279day, you're not out there becauseyou're important. You're out there because God13500:10:24.480 --> 00:10:26.720called you to be out there.Out there to shine a light, and13600:10:26.799 --> 00:10:31.240I just want to inject also justa little bit of faith. Maybe this,13700:10:31.559 --> 00:10:33.320hopefully this, will help you.I think it will. Again,13800:10:33.320 --> 00:10:39.070we walk by faith and not bysight, and if we believe, and13900:10:39.190 --> 00:10:41.669I do believe that, as believers, we are a city set on a14000:10:41.750 --> 00:10:46.190hill, we are a light.Jesus said, you're the light of the14100:10:46.230 --> 00:10:50.259world. You have a light thatyou're shining whether whether people are looking at14200:10:50.299 --> 00:10:52.779that light or not, or appearto be looking at that light or not,14300:10:52.820 --> 00:10:56.779you're still shining a light. You'restanding there in faith believing that God14400:10:56.059 --> 00:11:01.059is honoring what you're doing. Listen, faithfulness is tested not when it's fun14500:11:01.139 --> 00:11:05.330and exciting. Faithfulness is is testedwhen it's not fun and it's not exciting,14600:11:05.370 --> 00:11:09.009when things are kind of boring.Right. Faith is tested when we're14700:11:09.049 --> 00:11:13.450in the desert, we're in thevalley, our faithfulness to the Lord and14800:11:13.570 --> 00:11:16.570what he's called us to. Butagain, I want to encourage in your14900:11:16.610 --> 00:11:20.480faith that, even though you don'tthink anything's happening out there on the sidewalk.15000:11:20.519 --> 00:11:26.679A story that I share oftentimes isa story of a friend of mine15100:11:26.799 --> 00:11:31.039who, in this was I meanprobably I think twelve years ago or something,15200:11:31.080 --> 00:11:33.870as I remember, but a friendof mine. We were it was15300:11:33.950 --> 00:11:37.990one of those kind of boring dayswith not a whole lot was going on15400:11:37.149 --> 00:11:41.470on the sidewalk and a friend ofmine named Brett just to at it.15500:11:41.549 --> 00:11:45.669He was going to pace the sidewalkand just pray. And this brother knows15600:11:45.710 --> 00:11:48.379how to pray and say he's notjust praying like quietly to himself, although15700:11:48.379 --> 00:11:52.779if you do that that's fine.I think it's past that that he's prying15800:11:52.820 --> 00:11:56.100out loud. He's pretty but there'sno outward nothing happening right, nothing really15900:11:56.139 --> 00:12:00.580going on. Right. Well,we find out, like I don't know16000:12:00.659 --> 00:12:05.090how, how many weeks or solater, that actually a young lady inside16100:12:05.090 --> 00:12:07.409of that abortion center was in thewaiting room and she peeked out of the16200:12:07.450 --> 00:12:09.809blinds. I don't know if yousometimes, if you look at the abortion16300:12:09.850 --> 00:12:13.330center on Latrobe and you look atthe blind sometimes you'll see the blinds come16400:12:13.370 --> 00:12:18.279open. You'll see just like alittle gap in the blinds got I've recognized16500:12:18.360 --> 00:12:20.639that now. Back then I didn't, but you paying attention to that.16600:12:22.080 --> 00:12:24.600But apparently she did that look throughthose blinds. She saw him out there16700:12:24.639 --> 00:12:28.320on the sidewalk praying and that's whatencouraged her to choose life. She said,16800:12:28.320 --> 00:12:31.789I knew that guy was praying forme and for my baby, and16900:12:31.909 --> 00:12:33.429she chose life. She got connectedin some way. I don't know all17000:12:33.429 --> 00:12:37.309the INS and outs of the story. That was one of those kind of17100:12:37.350 --> 00:12:39.909boring days and he just decide,you know what, I'm out here,17200:12:41.470 --> 00:12:43.549there's death going on in there,this is a dark place. I'm going17300:12:43.590 --> 00:12:45.899to shine the light. I'm justgoing to pray. Right. So what17400:12:46.059 --> 00:12:48.779was he doing? He was walkingby faith and not by sight. We17500:12:48.860 --> 00:12:52.940could have packed it up and said, you know what, there's nobody's listening17600:12:52.019 --> 00:12:56.059to us. Let's just knock thedust off off of our feet and let's17700:12:56.059 --> 00:13:00.610just go on. Yeah, wedidn't do that that day, praise God.17800:13:00.730 --> 00:13:03.649Yeah, we decided to. Hedecided to pray and to press and17900:13:03.850 --> 00:13:09.409walk by faith. And I'll sayit's helpful again, practically speaking. This18000:13:09.570 --> 00:13:13.840is why we say if you're goingto volunteer, it's good to have kind18100:13:13.879 --> 00:13:16.120of a set time. If you'reorganizing teams on the sidewalks, good to18200:13:16.120 --> 00:13:20.279have a set time. For usit's three hours, nine to twelve.18300:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.879I think it's really helpful because whenyou get into those boring times, at18400:13:22.879 --> 00:13:26.840least you have a time. Okay, I'm going to be here until twelve18500:13:26.879 --> 00:13:31.230o'clock, whether I see out resultsor not. And if you're maybe the18600:13:31.309 --> 00:13:33.549team lead is given you a particularposition to stand in and it's a boring18700:13:33.629 --> 00:13:37.629position. Press into that, befaithful, to stay that three hours,18800:13:37.990 --> 00:13:41.940and I might even just intentionally putmy flesh in check by saying, okay,18900:13:43.100 --> 00:13:46.139I'm supposed to be here till twelve, I'm going to stay till o19000:13:46.379 --> 00:13:48.340one, right, just to tellmy flesh, yeah, you're in subjection19100:13:48.419 --> 00:13:52.220to me. I'm going to stayby faith. So again this want encourage19200:13:52.220 --> 00:13:56.370you guys. Like God's doing somestuff. You never know what God's doing19300:13:56.409 --> 00:13:58.690behind the scenes. Like that storyI shared. There are women that come19400:13:58.769 --> 00:14:03.289to the abortion center. They're drivingup to you know, wherever you're at19500:14:03.850 --> 00:14:05.769on that that road, you don'tsee it, you don't know about it,19600:14:07.009 --> 00:14:09.210but they see you out there praying. They see you out there just19700:14:09.289 --> 00:14:11.519bored out of your mind, maybelistening to some scripture, but you're out19800:14:11.519 --> 00:14:15.000there praying. They see you andthey know why you're out there, and19900:14:15.120 --> 00:14:18.720so they keep driving and you won'tfind out about that life that was saved20000:14:18.360 --> 00:14:22.120and that mother, possibly who cameto the Lord. Maybe she went to20100:14:22.200 --> 00:14:24.669church that next Sunday and got saved. Who knows? Yeah, again,20200:14:24.750 --> 00:14:28.710we walk by faith and not bysight. Yeah, you won't find out20300:14:28.710 --> 00:14:31.029about that story until you stand beforethe Lord. So encourage you guys.20400:14:31.110 --> 00:14:35.389Be Faithful. God's called you there. It's not about you, it's about20500:14:35.429 --> 00:14:39.019him, and it walk by faithin that here. Yeah. Yeah,20600:14:39.100 --> 00:14:43.259so and and Jeremiah, when hewas clearly called by God. He's spoke20700:14:43.379 --> 00:14:46.179with God and God said he wascalling him to this ministry and told them20800:14:46.179 --> 00:14:50.860exactly what he was going to do. And Jeremiah even tried. He kind20900:14:50.899 --> 00:14:52.690of fought it. He said,I tried to be silent, but then21000:14:52.889 --> 00:14:56.649in that verse where he talks aboutbeing silent, he said it would in21100:14:56.809 --> 00:15:00.809my heart. It becomes like aburning fire shut up in my bones.21200:15:00.850 --> 00:15:05.009I'm weary of holding it in.So he did press through that and and21300:15:05.490 --> 00:15:11.440speak anyway. And to your pointagain, just a couple of days ago21400:15:11.440 --> 00:15:16.600a very similar thing happened. Wherewe've been out there, of course,21500:15:18.000 --> 00:15:22.509sometimes totally ignored apparently, and andwe just continue to do our thing and21600:15:22.629 --> 00:15:26.990a woman drove by and stopped whotold me that she has just over the21700:15:26.149 --> 00:15:31.110many, many weeks that she hadbeen going to a chiropractor up the street.21800:15:31.629 --> 00:15:35.269She had heard and seen these people, but she didn't know, she21900:15:35.350 --> 00:15:37.860didn't even know what was an abortioncenter. She didn't know what it was22000:15:37.940 --> 00:15:41.019all about. And said I'm justwondering what's going on here, because I've22100:15:41.019 --> 00:15:43.580been wondering for weeks. I've seenyou guys out here for weeks and and22200:15:45.500 --> 00:15:48.740so I told her and then Itold her, you know, one and22300:15:48.820 --> 00:15:52.289four women have have had an abortionand here's here's some information that that you22400:15:52.409 --> 00:15:58.049could share. If you ever knowsomeone in a and I'm playing pregnancy and22500:15:58.090 --> 00:16:02.289she started crying and for thirty yearsshe had carried the secret of her own22600:16:02.330 --> 00:16:06.679abortion. This was the first timeshe had spoken to someone about an abortion22700:16:06.759 --> 00:16:08.559she had thirty years ago, andI was able to point her on a22800:16:08.600 --> 00:16:14.399path of healing. It's because wewere there and seeing. So sometimes it's22900:16:14.559 --> 00:16:18.230just you showing up. Is thatis what God has called you to do,23000:16:18.389 --> 00:16:22.830and then you know, give theresults to him. Yeah, another23100:16:22.950 --> 00:16:29.269thing that that Jeremiah realized as ashe was ministering, when the fruit was23200:16:29.350 --> 00:16:34.820seemingly absent, was that the whatyou what you said earlier. The absence23300:16:34.860 --> 00:16:41.019of visible fruit is not surprising toGod and very may well may have a23400:16:41.139 --> 00:16:47.490divine purpose. So so God himselftells Jeremiah and Jeremiah D and twenty seven.23500:16:47.490 --> 00:16:49.809You shall speak all these words tothem, but they will not listen23600:16:49.850 --> 00:16:52.690to you, and you shall callto them, but they will not answer23700:16:52.730 --> 00:16:56.610you. He's warning Jeremiah. Yeah, but God, all his purposes,23800:16:56.730 --> 00:17:02.679always prevail. He wasn't just doingthat, putting Jeremiah in front of people23900:17:02.679 --> 00:17:07.240who would not listen just to frustrateJeremiah. There was a purpose in that.24000:17:07.680 --> 00:17:11.400JEREMIA didn't discover what that was necessarilyuntil the end. But but there24100:17:11.640 --> 00:17:15.789is a purpose, sometimes even insilence. Yeah, and even in the24200:17:15.869 --> 00:17:19.349lack of the visible fruit. Yeah, absolutely. And again it kind of24300:17:19.390 --> 00:17:26.430gets back to that principle of Jeremiah'scall in his ministry was not about him,24400:17:26.430 --> 00:17:29.829right, it was about the Lord. I think of I think of24500:17:29.950 --> 00:17:33.380Noah mmm, who God called tobuild the arc. And and of course24600:17:33.460 --> 00:17:37.539we know that part of the story, but we don't realize that from the24700:17:37.660 --> 00:17:41.819point that God called him to buildthat arc and again, a boat in24800:17:41.900 --> 00:17:45.609the middle of a desert, henever seen rain, as we've seen rain,24900:17:45.849 --> 00:17:48.890right. It never seen water inabundant yeah, and the time frame25000:17:49.329 --> 00:17:52.490from when God called him to dothat to win it actually reigned was like25100:17:52.569 --> 00:17:56.450a hundred and twenty years. Wow. And this man was called not just25200:17:56.529 --> 00:18:02.480to be a builder of ships butactually a prophet, like he was prophesying25300:18:02.880 --> 00:18:07.119and warning the people that God's judgmentwas coming. And in the middle of25400:18:07.160 --> 00:18:10.599the desert, watching a man builda boat. Yeah, and you can25500:18:10.640 --> 00:18:14.869imagine the mockery that this guy's underand all this stuff, but for the25600:18:14.950 --> 00:18:18.589most part people were just ignoring theguy. Yeah, but he did what25700:18:18.710 --> 00:18:22.309he did because God called him todo it. He was faithful in it25800:18:22.829 --> 00:18:26.619and God honored him and saved him, not just him but his family,25900:18:27.019 --> 00:18:32.140from the judgment that was to come. Right, Bible says, I'm paraphrasing26000:18:32.140 --> 00:18:33.779a little bit because I can't uotethe scripture exactly, but Jesus said,26100:18:33.940 --> 00:18:38.779when the son of man returns,will he find faith on the earth?26200:18:40.900 --> 00:18:44.410I want you to personalize that.When the son of man returned. Me26300:18:44.490 --> 00:18:45.730Think about that. Okay, thisis this is cool to think about.26400:18:47.890 --> 00:18:51.769We think about the the rapture andthe trumpet and the blast of the trumpet26500:18:52.009 --> 00:18:55.839when when Jesus Returns. Okay,the exciting stuff. We can we can26600:18:56.200 --> 00:18:59.240in the air with him, wecan debate about when all that takes place.26700:18:59.400 --> 00:19:04.039But what if it's a boring dayon the sidewalk of an abortion center?26800:19:04.160 --> 00:19:07.799Right, nothing's going on, you'rethinking, Oh Gosh, why I'm26900:19:07.839 --> 00:19:11.069even here, and all of asudden you hear the trumpet blast, right,27000:19:12.710 --> 00:19:18.509and Jesus returns. We're better tobe found right and standing in front27100:19:18.549 --> 00:19:21.670of an abortion clear. Yeah,I mean can this with a son of27200:19:21.750 --> 00:19:23.900man. When he returns, willhe find faith on the earth? Not.27300:19:25.059 --> 00:19:30.700Will he find excitement and enthusiasm andyou know somebody that can argue a27400:19:30.779 --> 00:19:33.500good point with a pro board,but will he find faith? and faith27500:19:33.619 --> 00:19:38.250is tested out when we don't feellike it, when we don't we're not27600:19:38.450 --> 00:19:42.170excited. It's really when faith istested. And certainly our faith can be27700:19:42.289 --> 00:19:48.210tested in the fire of opposition andall that stuff, but some of the27800:19:48.250 --> 00:19:52.880most difficult times of testing for meis when I'm bored, when I'm in27900:19:52.960 --> 00:19:56.920the desert. Yeah, you know, Paul talks about US redeeming the time,28000:19:56.359 --> 00:20:00.039and that's why I would give youguys this encouragement. If you're in28100:20:00.200 --> 00:20:04.839that scenario, get some podcasts.They can help you grow in the Lord.28200:20:06.000 --> 00:20:08.549Some messages, some preaching, somethings that you can put on your28300:20:08.589 --> 00:20:12.190air pods. Maybe this one.Yeah, yeah, maybe play our podcast.28400:20:12.269 --> 00:20:15.950Why? You have there on thesubtle maybe now's the auld. That's28500:20:15.950 --> 00:20:18.630right. You can get caught upon some some episodes of the podcast.28600:20:18.910 --> 00:20:22.619Listening to the scriptures. Redeem thetime. But you think about that,28700:20:22.740 --> 00:20:26.859if the Lord returns and you're thereon the sidewalk, you're not going to28800:20:26.900 --> 00:20:30.460be sad that you are fade fillin that and I believe God's going to28900:20:30.539 --> 00:20:34.299honor that in either way. Theeye of the Lord is in every place,29000:20:34.380 --> 00:20:37.890like he sees you there on thesidewalk. He's with you there and29100:20:38.210 --> 00:20:44.210in you're holding up the light ofwho he is. The truth of just29200:20:44.329 --> 00:20:47.970your presence is holding of the truththat abortion is wrong. Yeah, to29300:20:48.089 --> 00:20:49.599those who are going inside of thatplace. And I love that idea of29400:20:49.759 --> 00:20:53.440redeeming the time because that goes rightinto one of the next things that I29500:20:53.559 --> 00:21:00.559think is a key point that Jeremiahdiscovered is during that time of waiting,29600:21:00.920 --> 00:21:08.230of apparent inaction, Jeremiah was toldto tell the people that they were to29700:21:08.430 --> 00:21:11.630seek the welfare of their city whenthey were in exile, while they're waiting29800:21:11.789 --> 00:21:15.269to return. Desperately. They allwant to return to to Jerusalem, and29900:21:15.349 --> 00:21:18.339he's saying, but you're not,you're not going. You're not supposed to30000:21:18.420 --> 00:21:25.420just sit back and wait doing nothing. Your to build your houses, bare30100:21:25.539 --> 00:21:30.980children, Plant Gardens and seek thewelfare of the city. So He's saying30200:21:30.779 --> 00:21:36.650just what your are saying during thattime, during the periods of waiting for30300:21:36.769 --> 00:21:42.450the action to begin, redeem thattime, use that time wisely and seek30400:21:42.529 --> 00:21:47.839the welfare of the place where youare planted. Yeah, so, whatever30500:21:47.960 --> 00:21:53.119position you're in on that sidewalk,use that time as best as you can30600:21:53.920 --> 00:21:59.759to fulfill what God has put youthere to do. There is a purpose30700:21:59.960 --> 00:22:04.029for you and and use that timewisely. Yeah. Yeah, and you30800:22:04.109 --> 00:22:10.869can use that time if you're maybeyou're on a busier street just you're not30900:22:10.950 --> 00:22:12.670getting a whole lot of interactions withthe abortion center, but there's a lot31000:22:12.670 --> 00:22:15.980of people, foot traffic or whateverthat's coming by. Maybe get you stuck31100:22:17.019 --> 00:22:19.099a tracks and just hand out someGospel tracks. I mean, certainly you're31200:22:19.140 --> 00:22:22.619there because they're murdering babies inside ofthat building, so you don't want to31300:22:22.619 --> 00:22:26.380lose your focus on what's going oninside of there, but if you've got31400:22:26.500 --> 00:22:30.250some Gospel tracks you can hand out, hand out some Gospel tracks, take31500:22:30.329 --> 00:22:33.130time to pray. Pray for thecourse, the people going into the abortion31600:22:33.250 --> 00:22:37.730center, the people that work there. But even as cars are passing by,31700:22:37.930 --> 00:22:41.529maybe you see one person you recognizethat car. Maybe they're they're the31800:22:41.569 --> 00:22:45.880person that flips you off of everyday going to work or whatever. Maybe31900:22:45.920 --> 00:22:48.119they're just somebody that God's put onyour heart to pray for. Pray for32000:22:48.279 --> 00:22:52.200that person. Just take that timeto spend in prayer. Redeem that time32100:22:52.240 --> 00:22:56.039as a lot of ways you canreading that time. Yeah, I will32200:22:56.119 --> 00:22:59.710say this is something I wanted tomention earlier and just kind of get a32300:22:59.710 --> 00:23:03.710little side track. Didn't mention it, but if you've been maybe your team32400:23:03.710 --> 00:23:04.910lead is told you, Hey,I want you to hold this position.32500:23:07.069 --> 00:23:11.509You know, I know in atone of the abortion clinics in southern California32600:23:11.150 --> 00:23:15.019there's folks that minister on the Frontside of the parenthood building and then there's32700:23:15.019 --> 00:23:18.900folks that minister around the backside,because people go in and out both both32800:23:18.940 --> 00:23:22.460areas. Mostly they come out inthe back and in the front side and32900:23:23.140 --> 00:23:26.250you know, maybe on the frontside there's not a whole lot of interactions33000:23:26.329 --> 00:23:30.650at the end of the day.You know in most the interactions happen around33100:23:30.650 --> 00:23:33.369the back. The temptation can be, even though you've been asked to be33200:23:33.450 --> 00:23:36.130out in front, is like I'mbored here, so let me go around33300:23:36.170 --> 00:23:38.009back. And for me, becausethat is a temptation for me, if33400:23:38.009 --> 00:23:41.200I'm maybe up the street a littlebit on the trobe and there's action taking33500:23:41.240 --> 00:23:45.200place down there, I want toI want to abandon that post, yeah,33600:23:45.400 --> 00:23:48.720and go down where the action is. Often Times, though, as33700:23:48.759 --> 00:23:51.640soon as I band in that post, as soon as I go around behind33800:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.839the build instead of in the frontof the building where I was asked to33900:23:52.880 --> 00:23:57.750be, inevitably a car pulls up. I'm miss an interaction. Exactly what?34000:23:59.269 --> 00:24:02.869Don't let that be you take takeme as an example not to follow.34100:24:03.430 --> 00:24:06.990Stay firm. Now, God hastaught me. Stay where you've been34200:24:07.029 --> 00:24:08.750asked to be. Yeah, bethere, unless, of course, you34300:24:08.990 --> 00:24:11.539got to go to the bathroom orsomething like that. Right, but be34400:24:11.660 --> 00:24:15.299there. Be Faithful in that.You can. God will honor that.34500:24:15.619 --> 00:24:18.859Yeah, especially if you're you knowyou've been asked to be there. It's34600:24:18.420 --> 00:24:22.700they didn't ask you to stay inthat position just to be mean to you.34700:24:22.819 --> 00:24:26.970It's because it's a necessary position.So stand firm and what your leadership34800:24:26.049 --> 00:24:29.650is told you and asked you todo and with the Lord has called you34900:24:29.690 --> 00:24:32.529to do, got to honor it. Yeah, that's great and and of35000:24:32.650 --> 00:24:34.769course, one of the most famousverses and in Jeremiah, think it's in35100:24:34.769 --> 00:24:37.839Jeremiah twenty nine, for I knowthe plans that I have for you to35200:24:38.000 --> 00:24:41.200clears the Lord, plans for welfareand not for calamity, to give you35300:24:41.240 --> 00:24:45.160a future and a hope, andI think we apply that often times to35400:24:45.240 --> 00:24:48.519the people that were ministering to,but I think we also need to apply35500:24:48.599 --> 00:24:52.759it to ourselves. God has aplan for us. In the position that35600:24:52.839 --> 00:24:57.589we're at, we he has plannedthat are again to to work out his35700:24:57.750 --> 00:25:06.670good purposes and the we should befaithful to trusting him that wherever he is35800:25:06.750 --> 00:25:11.700placed us is where we're supposed tobe and something wonderful will happen if we35900:25:11.980 --> 00:25:15.059remain true to that. I knowwhat I tell the people that go up36000:25:15.099 --> 00:25:18.299the street. We often give thatexample here at the trope. That's maybe36100:25:18.500 --> 00:25:21.609the boringest, yeah, and maybenot, but I actually like it.36200:25:21.690 --> 00:25:23.569It's one of my favorites. ButI what I will tell them. As36300:25:23.609 --> 00:25:26.930you may have not a single personstop. You may have zero interactions,36400:25:27.089 --> 00:25:30.809but the one that does is goingto be critical because if someone stops up36500:25:30.849 --> 00:25:36.920there, it often is a safeso maybe you're going to wait three months36600:25:36.960 --> 00:25:41.200before it happens, but when ithappens it's a really important place for you36700:25:41.319 --> 00:25:45.920to be. Yeah, absolutely.Does you know don't lose sight of that.36800:25:45.599 --> 00:25:52.150Yeah, he's always there. Hereis another key point. That God36900:25:52.230 --> 00:25:56.150is there, he's always working andhis plan will not fail. and One37000:25:56.230 --> 00:26:00.710day the fruit of faithfulness will berevealed. You know, you said,37100:26:00.750 --> 00:26:03.190well, we walk by faith,not by sight. That is very true,37200:26:03.579 --> 00:26:07.940but one day there will be sight. Yeah, one day it will37300:26:07.980 --> 00:26:11.500be revealed and one day we're goingto find out that all those people that37400:26:11.619 --> 00:26:17.539never spoke to us, that stillsaw us, that there was something planted37500:26:17.579 --> 00:26:22.329in their life that later turned themtowards the Lord, so that there is37600:26:22.369 --> 00:26:27.849a hope in a future also,and we will get to see, yeah,37700:26:29.009 --> 00:26:33.920the the results of our faithfulness oneday. Yeah, absolutely, and37800:26:33.960 --> 00:26:38.759I think kind of as we wrapthis up, another practical tip for you37900:26:38.880 --> 00:26:44.319guys in the practical thing that youcan do is encourage each other. Yeah,38000:26:44.440 --> 00:26:48.910because it can be so easy toget discouraged, and a way that38100:26:48.990 --> 00:26:52.069we've encouraged the teams that are underus to do this is to create a38200:26:52.150 --> 00:26:57.869social media group or some way ofcommunicating with each other where you can share38300:26:57.869 --> 00:27:04.099scriptures, you can share encouragements and, you know, maybe you're you're at38400:27:04.180 --> 00:27:07.220one of these kind of boring scenariosyou have some of these boring days you38500:27:07.259 --> 00:27:11.900can see what God is doing andsome of the other days during the week38600:27:11.900 --> 00:27:15.220or some of the other abortion centersin your city. It's a way for38700:27:15.259 --> 00:27:18.410us to all stay connected in itand it's not easy always to remember because38800:27:18.410 --> 00:27:21.930we deal with our own discouragement.It's not always easy to remember that we38900:27:21.970 --> 00:27:26.289need to be encouraging each other becausewe want people to be encouraging to us39000:27:26.329 --> 00:27:30.359right. But you know, sometimeswe're encouraged in our spirit is lifted.39100:27:30.839 --> 00:27:33.880I can say that way when welift the spirits of others, when we39200:27:33.920 --> 00:27:37.519encourage others, sometimes we're encouraged andyou know, we kind of create this39300:27:37.720 --> 00:27:44.869culture within our sidewalk teams of encouragingeach other, of Hey, I see39400:27:44.950 --> 00:27:47.269what you're doing, I see yourfaithfulness. God sees it, but I39500:27:47.349 --> 00:27:49.869see it too and I'm blessed byit. Yeah, and you know,39600:27:49.910 --> 00:27:56.589I'll say practically speaking and kind ofgive a shout out actually Elijah, who's39700:27:56.630 --> 00:27:59.460over the window over abortion clinic,which is one of these abortion centers that's39800:27:59.579 --> 00:28:03.059really boring here in Charlotte. It'sreally hard. It's high traffic area,39900:28:03.460 --> 00:28:07.099the building is far away from thesidewalk right and it's it's really hard to40000:28:07.140 --> 00:28:10.819engage. They do have some engagementsfrom time to time, but it's really40100:28:10.819 --> 00:28:15.529hard to sign. Ministry there isone of the most important. But I40200:28:15.650 --> 00:28:21.329will say just that brother's faithfulness andbeing there for a long time really in40300:28:21.450 --> 00:28:26.049Charlotte, that kind of has beenthe hidden the hidden place of darkness in40400:28:26.130 --> 00:28:27.799our city. We all know aboutpretty see. Yeah, and we didn't40500:28:27.880 --> 00:28:32.359really know that until we had aliesh out there. Yeah, I know40600:28:32.559 --> 00:28:36.319you'd person centers kind of like youknow, it's the monstrosity, is the40700:28:36.440 --> 00:28:40.519giant, it's the Goliath, it'smocking the children of Israel, right,40800:28:40.720 --> 00:28:44.150like that story goes. The windowis kind of hidden over to the side.40900:28:44.309 --> 00:28:47.630Yeah, and this brother has reallybeen faithful over the past couple of41000:28:47.670 --> 00:28:52.670years being out there, being thatstandard, that that that light shining.41100:28:52.710 --> 00:28:57.500And I'm telling you, I knowpractically, but also in faith, that41200:28:57.660 --> 00:29:02.059there are babies, I don't knowhow many babies that are saved. Yeah,41300:29:02.180 --> 00:29:04.460because of course the signs that areout there, but just his presence41400:29:04.500 --> 00:29:07.980out there and the presence of theteam God's build a team, slowly but41500:29:08.099 --> 00:29:12.410surely, out there on that sidewalk. Gosh, we're going to hear when41600:29:12.450 --> 00:29:17.130we stand before the Lord. We'regoing to hear if babies that were saying.41700:29:17.130 --> 00:29:19.009We're going to hear if people maybethey weren't even coming to the abortion41800:29:19.089 --> 00:29:22.730clinic. Yeah, but we're justdriving by and never, never even knew41900:29:22.730 --> 00:29:26.039it was an abortion clinic. Right. But women that are considering abortion,42000:29:26.079 --> 00:29:30.880maybe they're on their way to theirjob or whatever, and they see elies42100:29:30.000 --> 00:29:33.039out there, they see his teamout there, they see the signs that42200:29:33.079 --> 00:29:37.319are out there and they turn awayfrom abortion before they even for they even42300:29:37.359 --> 00:29:41.869really know that they were even planningon making an appointment exactly. And again,42400:29:41.910 --> 00:29:45.349that's that's walking by faith and notby sight, and that brother doesn't42500:29:45.390 --> 00:29:48.230he does it well, and sojust wanted to give a shout out to42600:29:48.309 --> 00:29:52.579him because of that as a blessing. It's an encouragement for all of you42700:29:52.619 --> 00:29:57.019guys across the country. You're there, maybe you're one of these abortion centers42800:29:57.099 --> 00:30:02.259like latrobe, where it's crazy andyou're intimidated by that and that's getting a42900:30:02.259 --> 00:30:04.380little discouraging, or maybe kind ofthe opposite end of the spectrum, mirror,43000:30:04.420 --> 00:30:07.410one of these abortion centers where,you know, maybe patients are just43100:30:07.569 --> 00:30:11.650trickling in. There's not a wholelot of places or times where you can43200:30:11.730 --> 00:30:18.250engage with the people going in whatGod has called you to. Be Faithful43300:30:18.329 --> 00:30:22.599in it. God will honor it. Do it by faith and put it43400:30:22.640 --> 00:30:26.359in God's hands and don't give up. I think the final lesson that all43500:30:26.400 --> 00:30:33.319of us have to remember is don'tgive up. Don't don't quit because it's43600:30:33.440 --> 00:30:37.509not the exciting, you know missionthat that you thought it would be,43700:30:37.910 --> 00:30:42.029or for any reason. Don't giveup. Don't quit. Jeremiah did not,43800:30:42.829 --> 00:30:47.950and in the end he he wasfaithful through all those years, and43900:30:48.190 --> 00:30:51.140that that should be us as well. Don't, don't give up. Finish44000:30:51.259 --> 00:30:55.059the race that God has called youto, no matter what. Yeah,44100:30:55.339 --> 00:30:59.099Amen. Yeah. Well, guys, we appreciate you listening to this podcast44200:30:59.140 --> 00:31:02.220episode. We'd appreciate if you wouldshare this episode. Maybe it will be44300:31:02.259 --> 00:31:06.450an encouragement a challenge for someone.Maybe it's an encouragement and challenge for you44400:31:06.569 --> 00:31:07.730and you know that someone else willbe blessed by it. Share it with44500:31:07.849 --> 00:31:11.970your team, if you have asidewalk team where you serve and reach out44600:31:12.009 --> 00:31:15.130to us if you have questions.Maybe have other subjects you'd like for us44700:31:15.130 --> 00:31:18.599to cover. We'd love to tryto cover those subjects. You can reach44800:31:18.680 --> 00:31:21.640me, Daniel at Love Life DotOrg. You can reach her, Vicky44900:31:21.720 --> 00:31:25.119at Love Life Dot Org. Anduntil next time, God bless God,45000:31:25.240 --> 00:31:41.589bless Y'all our love for love.Give me our love for gratitude. I45100:31:41.910 --> 00:31:51.299know it will cost me my life. Nothing's too precious in some you