Reaching Out in Boldness

WEBVTT100:00:00.560 --> 00:00:05.759I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours. S and me,200:00:06.160 --> 00:00:11.349Lord, I am yours, Iam yours. I'm welcome to the300:00:11.429 --> 00:00:17.309Gospel Center Pray Life Podcast, apodcast designed to equip, encourage and challenge400:00:17.350 --> 00:00:20.910you in pray life ministry, andalways with a focus on the Gospel.500:00:20.949 --> 00:00:35.380Stay tuned. I felt show passish, touch your heart, use me well.600:00:35.500 --> 00:00:39.409Welcome back to the Gospel Center praylife podcast. Appreciate you guys joining700:00:39.450 --> 00:00:42.850us and, as always, wouldappreciate if you guys would share this podcast800:00:42.890 --> 00:00:47.289episode with others who might be blessed, people that you know that are serving,900:00:47.409 --> 00:00:52.399maybe alongside of you on the sidewalk, or maybe you have connections with1000:00:52.479 --> 00:00:57.079people in social media that also dosidewalk ministry or that are thinking about doing1100:00:57.119 --> 00:01:00.240sidewalk ministry. We think this podcastwould be a blessing to them and we1200:01:00.359 --> 00:01:04.989hope that this episode will be ablessing to anybody who's listening, and we1300:01:06.030 --> 00:01:10.590would like to just be an encouragement. That's that's the goal of these things.1400:01:10.909 --> 00:01:14.950We have some experiences. We've beeninvolved in sidewalk ministry for a good1500:01:15.030 --> 00:01:18.739while and think we have something wecan teach you, guys. May Be1600:01:18.939 --> 00:01:22.219learning from our mistakes, and soyou guys don't have to make your own1700:01:22.219 --> 00:01:26.060mistakes. You can let us makemistakes for you. But we hope to1800:01:26.299 --> 00:01:30.099encourage you and we hope this episode, where we're going to be focusing on1900:01:30.420 --> 00:01:36.930the subject of boldness, will justin do you with boldness and with courage.2000:01:37.890 --> 00:01:42.689So so we're going to jump intoit pretty quick right. Yeah,2100:01:42.730 --> 00:01:46.170I mean some, some counselors.I train counselors. That's what I do,2200:01:46.290 --> 00:01:49.280is I train the sideblock counselors.Some of them come right from the2300:01:49.439 --> 00:01:53.159beginning just bold. Yeah, youcan tell you you got to hold them2400:01:53.200 --> 00:01:59.200back almost from from speaking with authorityand boldness, and then some are very,2500:01:59.239 --> 00:02:05.510very timid and and will change overtime, and then some never seem2600:02:05.670 --> 00:02:12.069to quite get that. Yeah,but I do believe it can be developed2700:02:12.629 --> 00:02:17.300and, as in all things,the best way to develop any quality or2800:02:17.379 --> 00:02:23.020characteristic that's going to be necessary forministry is through the Bible. Figure it2900:02:23.060 --> 00:02:25.620out. What is the Bible?Tell us how how did because it,3000:02:27.259 --> 00:02:34.689interestingly enough, the Bible gives greatguidance in how to be bold. You3100:02:34.770 --> 00:02:38.490know, how to develop that qualityof boldness. Yeah, yeah, I3200:02:38.610 --> 00:02:44.090think just to preface this. Aboveand beyond anything, our boldness comes through3300:02:44.250 --> 00:02:49.000God's work in us. And thereis, I mean, what we definitely3400:02:49.120 --> 00:02:53.280do not want to embrace and whatwe definitely own this podcast do not want3500:02:53.280 --> 00:02:58.949to push and encourage people in hispride and like this idea of mean,3600:02:59.469 --> 00:03:02.789let's say, self confidence. Weshould be confident in ourselves as far as3700:03:02.949 --> 00:03:07.189what God has done in us andwhat God is able to do through us.3800:03:07.990 --> 00:03:13.939But self reliance, we want tojust I mean a whore self reliance.3900:03:14.419 --> 00:03:17.580Self reliance is not a Christian quality. We're supposed to rely on the4000:03:17.659 --> 00:03:22.580Lord in his work through us,for sure. And so, Hey,4100:03:23.379 --> 00:03:28.849we're not talking about pride, we'renot talking about you doing everything in your4200:03:28.889 --> 00:03:30.490strengths. Matter of fact, that'skind of where our boldness comes from,4300:03:30.650 --> 00:03:34.969is doing things in the strength ofthe Lord. But we are talking about4400:03:34.969 --> 00:03:38.409a confidence, a confidence, Imean I think like David. That's that's4500:03:38.490 --> 00:03:44.000probably where my mind always goes whenI think of boldness and confidence and just4600:03:44.080 --> 00:03:49.759kind of that balance between humility andconfidence and which the opposite of humility would4700:03:49.759 --> 00:03:53.039be pride, right, and thenself confidence. You See David, the4800:03:53.120 --> 00:04:00.669young shepherd boy with a total boldnessand confidence in that whole showdown with Goliath4900:04:00.710 --> 00:04:03.030right and even before that, ashe's talking to the you know, to5000:04:03.110 --> 00:04:08.550the king, and he's talking tothe other Army folks that are supposed to5100:04:08.550 --> 00:04:12.659be doing something about this Goliath,about this giant, and he really speaks5200:04:12.740 --> 00:04:16.139in some what you might perceive tobe prideful ways, but you'll notice his5300:04:16.259 --> 00:04:20.220language is not one of like selfreliance and self confidence, but more of5400:04:20.379 --> 00:04:24.449what the Lord like. The Lorddelivered the lion in the bared to my5500:04:24.529 --> 00:04:28.610hands and he's going to deliver thisuncircumcised Philistine into my hands. So he's5600:04:28.850 --> 00:04:31.810he's really this is he's putting theball in the Lord's Court, so to5700:04:31.850 --> 00:04:35.089speak, and he knows, hehas confidence in what the Lord has done,5800:04:35.730 --> 00:04:40.519knowing that God is the same andknowing what the Lord is going to5900:04:40.639 --> 00:04:46.319do to this uncircumstance Philistine. SoI think about David and that real balance6000:04:46.240 --> 00:04:53.709between humility and confidence, and youknow, as it translates into really a6100:04:53.990 --> 00:04:59.470boldness that this young man shows upon a battlefield with a sling and ultimately6200:04:59.589 --> 00:05:02.029takes the sword of that Goliath,that giant, and lops his head off6300:05:02.110 --> 00:05:05.870with his own sword. That's that'syeah, that's a story of boldness in6400:05:05.949 --> 00:05:10.819action. And then there's a storythat you pointed me to when we were6500:05:10.860 --> 00:05:16.740talking about this podcast. That isin acts, for yeah, and I6600:05:17.060 --> 00:05:21.889had I've certainly been familiar and redacts for many times, but I had6700:05:23.009 --> 00:05:28.689never looked at it in you know, kind of broken it apart, looking6800:05:29.009 --> 00:05:34.129for what gave Peter and John Theirboldness and the fact that boldness is discussed6900:05:35.120 --> 00:05:44.759throughout this this chapter of acts,and it was really an interesting exercise to7000:05:44.800 --> 00:05:49.189go through and I just broke itapart step by step because I think it7100:05:49.389 --> 00:05:55.670is a beautiful validation of what youjust said, how we find our boldness7200:05:55.790 --> 00:06:01.149in the Lord. But there weresome very specific things that are pointed out7300:06:01.149 --> 00:06:08.740in that chapter that were true ofJohn and Peter that gave them the boldness7400:06:08.860 --> 00:06:16.379that I think just are directly applicableto you if we're volunteering and we desire7500:06:16.860 --> 00:06:21.050that boldness, because that that boldnessis is an important equipping work of God7600:06:21.850 --> 00:06:28.610for a ministry to go like ours, a sidewalk ministry, to go forth.7700:06:29.569 --> 00:06:31.490So I mean, look at thelook at did different point when make7800:06:31.569 --> 00:06:36.600me for I well, you know, I would say the opposite of boldness7900:06:36.759 --> 00:06:43.439would would be timidity, and weknow that famous passages of scripture, or8000:06:43.519 --> 00:06:46.360Paul Tells Timothy. God has notgiven us a spirit of fear, but8100:06:46.439 --> 00:06:50.029of power, love and a soundmind, and that word fear could actually8200:06:50.029 --> 00:06:55.110be translated timidity. God has notgiven us a spirit of timidity. Like8300:06:55.269 --> 00:07:00.509we shouldn't be timid. Now there'smeekness, and we know Jesus is meek,8400:07:00.670 --> 00:07:02.740right, he says, learned fromme, for I am meek and8500:07:02.939 --> 00:07:09.139lowly of heart. Right, butJesus was not timid. And so there's8600:07:09.180 --> 00:07:13.779these words that we use like timidand meek, that that kind of could8700:07:13.899 --> 00:07:17.370mean the same thing in some sense, but they don't mean the same thing8800:07:17.529 --> 00:07:24.490and it really comes from a confidenceand a reliance on the Lord. God8900:07:24.610 --> 00:07:27.529has not given us a spirit oftimidity. So when we're on the sidewalk9000:07:27.569 --> 00:07:30.040in particular, we don't need tobe timid, we need to be meek,9100:07:30.319 --> 00:07:33.040we need to be humble, forsure, but we don't need to9200:07:33.120 --> 00:07:36.560be timid. And listen, youguys that are on the sidewalk, you9300:07:36.720 --> 00:07:41.240have to remember that. Of coursewe're dealing with life and death. We're9400:07:41.240 --> 00:07:45.550dealing with people that are eternally lost, like they're separated from God through their9500:07:45.589 --> 00:07:49.670sin. Right, and what youhave in you, as far as Christ9600:07:49.829 --> 00:07:53.389in you, the hope of glory, is what they need. And so,9700:07:53.509 --> 00:07:58.149guys, you, what you haveto say is important, right,9800:07:58.230 --> 00:08:01.620you have no reason to be timid. What you have to communicate to these9900:08:01.660 --> 00:08:05.139women, to these men, tothe abortion workers, it's vitally important.10000:08:05.500 --> 00:08:11.180Right. It's like you've got thecure to the worst sickness that that has10100:08:11.259 --> 00:08:16.170ever came across humanity. Right,you've got the cure to it, and10200:08:16.250 --> 00:08:20.810so you need to be bold inand really conveying the truth of that cure.10300:08:22.009 --> 00:08:24.250WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? So youdon't need to be self reliant.10400:08:24.730 --> 00:08:28.680We're not talking about self confidence,but we're talking about you've got truth that10500:08:28.839 --> 00:08:33.519people need and you need to beconfident that that truth is is what God10600:08:33.600 --> 00:08:39.000wants them to have. And youknow, don't be timid, right,10700:08:39.200 --> 00:08:43.389and and and so, to validatethat scripturally acts for a so it's right10800:08:43.470 --> 00:08:48.309at the beginning, you know,kind of maybe set this stage for what's10900:08:48.350 --> 00:08:52.909happening in nacs. For so Peterand John have they've just healed a man11000:08:54.190 --> 00:08:56.940who is crippled from birth. It'sa miracle, clearly a miracle, and11100:08:58.779 --> 00:09:03.340the people are just amazed and they'relistening to Peter and John, who are11200:09:03.460 --> 00:09:11.129then boldly proclaiming the truth of Jesusresurrection. And the religious leaders and a11300:09:11.330 --> 00:09:16.610palace guard are watching this and they'reseeing these throngs of people coming to listen11400:09:16.690 --> 00:09:22.049to John and Paul and they arePeter and John and they don't like that11500:09:22.090 --> 00:09:28.679at all. Yeah, and sothey actually arrest them and and then they11600:09:28.759 --> 00:09:35.759they arrest them and and and thenthey bring them to trial in front of11700:09:35.799 --> 00:09:43.429the people and tell them that theywill let them go but that they must11800:09:43.870 --> 00:09:46.470be silent, they can no longerspeak the name of Jesus. So that's11900:09:46.509 --> 00:09:54.379kind of the backdrop of of whatis happening in acts for and right away12000:09:54.539 --> 00:10:01.220in acts and eight. Here's thefirst clue, I think, in why12100:10:01.299 --> 00:10:05.259we should have an attitude of boldness, or maybe how we have an attitude12200:10:05.259 --> 00:10:07.409of boldness. Yeah, so thatfirst says. Then Peter Filled with the12300:10:07.610 --> 00:10:13.450Holy Spirit, said to them,rulers and elders of the people, and12400:10:13.490 --> 00:10:18.049then he goes on, but thekeep the key phrase there. Peter was12500:10:18.730 --> 00:10:22.759filled with the Holy Spirit. Andthat goes back to what you first said,12600:10:22.759 --> 00:10:28.559Daniel, that it's not of us, it is not of us that12700:10:28.720 --> 00:10:33.159any act of boldness, any wordsof boldness, proceed out of a heart12800:10:33.679 --> 00:10:39.830that is filled with the Holy Spirit. And so I think as a believer12900:10:41.710 --> 00:10:46.110will they're there are things you cando to be certain that you are walking13000:10:46.190 --> 00:10:50.500in the spirit, and we've saidthem many, many times. Be In13100:10:50.539 --> 00:10:58.980the word, be in church andand be in prayer. Yeah, and13200:10:58.299 --> 00:11:05.769so kind of how I would characterizethis first section of boldness where we see13300:11:05.009 --> 00:11:11.769Peter and John speaking filled with theHoly Spirit. They abided in Jesus and13400:11:13.370 --> 00:11:20.759listen to acts for thirteen because Ithink that that really points that out very13500:11:20.799 --> 00:11:26.840explicitly. It says now is theyobserved. So the the rulers, the13600:11:26.639 --> 00:11:31.000and the guards and as there asthey're watching John and Peter Speak, they13700:11:31.080 --> 00:11:41.710said as they observed the confidence ofPeter and John, Um, they understood,13800:11:43.149 --> 00:11:50.539they understood that they were uneducated anduntrained men. They were amazed,13900:11:50.100 --> 00:11:56.980and here's the key point, theybegan to recognize them as having been with14000:11:56.100 --> 00:12:01.850Jesus. Yeah, that's key.Only abide in the Lord, when we14100:12:01.929 --> 00:12:05.090abide in Jesus. In their casethey were directly with him. We're not14200:12:05.809 --> 00:12:09.769in the same way, I guess, physically with him, but we are14300:12:11.129 --> 00:12:15.009in a very real sense with himbecause when we've submitted our lives to him,14400:12:15.009 --> 00:12:18.840the Holy Spirit enters us. Yeah, and when we spend time with14500:12:18.960 --> 00:12:24.159him in prayer, in and fellowshipwith other believers in the especially in the14600:12:24.279 --> 00:12:33.549word, we're abiding with Jesus.And so significantly did Peter and John Abide14700:12:33.990 --> 00:12:43.379in Jesus that these unbelievers knew thatthey spoke with authority and confidence. And14800:12:43.460 --> 00:12:50.019they point out two things that don'tgive authority or that they perceived from a14900:12:50.100 --> 00:12:54.659worldly point of view, does giveauthority. But they knew that wasn't true.15000:12:54.740 --> 00:13:01.330Them Education. They they were uneducatedand untrained. They were not trained15100:13:01.490 --> 00:13:05.409speakers. Yeah, so I thinkagain that goes back to your original point,15200:13:05.009 --> 00:13:09.409that it's not of them or theirskills or their talents, but it's15300:13:09.490 --> 00:13:16.240of they were with Jesus. Theyhad been with Jesus. Yeah, absolutely,15400:13:16.320 --> 00:13:18.799and you notice the word is confidence. The word confidence is used in15500:13:18.799 --> 00:13:24.039there now. They observed the confidenceof Peter and John. Again, it15600:13:24.159 --> 00:13:26.870was not a self confidence, butit was a confidence in their abiding in15700:13:28.070 --> 00:13:31.149Christ. Now, the Pharisees,of course, wouldn't have you know,15800:13:31.190 --> 00:13:35.830they wouldn't really have articulated in thatway. There may be thinking along the15900:13:35.909 --> 00:13:37.870terms of, you know, Jesuswas this. I mean they have they16000:13:37.950 --> 00:13:41.580viewed him as a great teacher.He obviously had a big following, right,16100:13:43.139 --> 00:13:45.779and they wondered like how does heknow all the stuff that he knows?16200:13:45.860 --> 00:13:48.940But they they acknowledge that Jesus knewa lot of stuff. So their16300:13:50.019 --> 00:13:54.419thoughts are not that like in aspiritual sense that somehow Jesus is working through16400:13:54.580 --> 00:13:56.490them, but more in a practicalsense, as Jesus taught them a bunch16500:13:56.490 --> 00:14:01.049of stuff, you know. Butof course we realize that this is Jesus16600:14:01.090 --> 00:14:05.409actually working through them and we realizethat this having been with Jesus is more16700:14:05.490 --> 00:14:09.080than just Jesus taught them a bunchof stuff, but actually Jesus discipled them16800:14:09.519 --> 00:14:13.639in how to walk with God.And that's really he right. They're walking16900:14:13.799 --> 00:14:18.120with God. One of the phrasesthat we often use, and that often17000:14:18.200 --> 00:14:22.480use as I'm encouraging people that arenew to this ministry and if that are17100:14:22.559 --> 00:14:24.830the been in this ministry for along time, is that you can't give17200:14:24.950 --> 00:14:28.830what you don't have. And thepeople that we encounter at the abortion centers,17300:14:30.389 --> 00:14:33.029they don't have Jesus right. Theydon't know him, they don't have17400:14:33.110 --> 00:14:37.429a relationship with him. If theydo in some measure, they've obviously walked17500:14:37.429 --> 00:14:41.740away from that right. They've turnedaway from that relationship and they need to17600:14:41.779 --> 00:14:46.659be brought back into right relationship withJesus. What they need is an encounter17700:14:46.779 --> 00:14:52.259with Jesus. What they need isa confrontation with the truth of who he17800:14:52.620 --> 00:14:56.730is. Right, and we havehim in us. Right, he's he17900:14:56.889 --> 00:14:58.009says, I will be with youand I will be in you by his18000:14:58.129 --> 00:15:03.289Holy Spirit. Right, and sowe have what they need. That's why18100:15:03.330 --> 00:15:07.320we can be confident again, notin ourselves, not that we have all18200:15:07.440 --> 00:15:11.679of the answers, because we don't. Right, we don't got it all18300:15:11.720 --> 00:15:15.879figured out. We can't give themevery resource to meet every need. But18400:15:16.039 --> 00:15:18.960spiritually speaking, if we have thespirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead18500:15:20.360 --> 00:15:24.509living in us, and according tothe Bible we do, then we have18600:15:24.830 --> 00:15:30.590ultimately in above and beyond anything else, we have what they need. Spiritually.18700:15:30.590 --> 00:15:33.669They need Jesus, and so weneed to be like it says in18800:15:33.750 --> 00:15:39.100this passage, those who have beenwith Jesus. We need to be constantly18900:15:39.259 --> 00:15:46.059in prayer, we need to becultivating intimacy with Jesus ourself and we need19000:15:46.179 --> 00:15:50.570to be in the word, constantlyin the word, seeing what the Bible19100:15:50.690 --> 00:15:54.250says about certain things, and theanswers that we give, as far as19200:15:54.490 --> 00:15:58.769you know, whatever the issue mightbe, ultimately need to come from the19300:15:58.809 --> 00:16:03.690word of God. And the coursethere's practical stuff, there's resources. You19400:16:03.809 --> 00:16:07.679guys know the three talking points right. But if we do all the practical19500:16:07.759 --> 00:16:12.080stuff and give all the practical reasonswhy woman shouldn't have an abortion, you19600:16:12.200 --> 00:16:17.240know through resources and through fetal developmentor whatever, and we leave out this19700:16:17.399 --> 00:16:19.590fact that they need Jesus, thenwe're leaving out the most important thing.19800:16:19.830 --> 00:16:23.110And so we've got to be withhim. And I'm telling you, as19900:16:23.110 --> 00:16:27.389you walk with Jesus, as you'rein prayer before you go out to the20000:16:27.470 --> 00:16:30.429sidewalk, and you need to bein prayer before you got to the sidewalk,20100:16:32.980 --> 00:16:36.700God will give you things to sayin the moment. God will help20200:16:36.700 --> 00:16:38.860you to know, because we knowalways know how to respond, and that's20300:16:38.860 --> 00:16:42.700why I've said so often on thispodcast. If I could give you one20400:16:42.779 --> 00:16:47.730key to being effective on the sidewalk, you'd be walk with Jesus, do20500:16:47.889 --> 00:16:52.009with these disciples did right. That'sright. I'm with Jesus Right, and20600:16:52.649 --> 00:16:57.210that flows into the the second thingthat kind of progresses in that book of20700:16:57.289 --> 00:17:06.920acts about they knew that their authoritywas Jesus, not men, and so20800:17:07.079 --> 00:17:11.039the leaders are kind of flummox theydon't know, what are we going to20900:17:11.079 --> 00:17:15.160do about about these these people thatwe can't control, and they've got all21000:17:15.200 --> 00:17:18.950these followers and they're saying all this'scrazy stuff that's turning them away from us21100:17:19.150 --> 00:17:25.789and our beliefs. So they they'regoing to release them because they really can't21200:17:25.829 --> 00:17:29.069hold them. They had not committeda crime. But but you know,21300:17:29.190 --> 00:17:33.420they tell them you must not speakor teach in in the name of Jesus,21400:17:33.500 --> 00:17:38.019and I that to me is likehow many times have we heard that21500:17:38.339 --> 00:17:41.779on the sidewalk that, in fact, we did a podcast about that.21600:17:41.900 --> 00:17:45.849The people turning around and saying,shut up, stop talking to me,21700:17:45.210 --> 00:17:48.890you're making me feel bad, don'ttalk about God, and we'll hear it21800:17:48.890 --> 00:17:52.130all the time. I don't evenbelieve in God. To stop talking about21900:17:52.210 --> 00:17:56.329Jesus. But look at Peter andJohn's response, because it was a similar22000:17:56.529 --> 00:18:00.240thing that they were told from theleaders. Will let you go, but22100:18:00.400 --> 00:18:06.240stop talking about Jesus. Yeah,here's what x hundred nineteen says. But22200:18:06.359 --> 00:18:10.720Peter and John answered and said tothem whether it is right, in the22300:18:10.839 --> 00:18:15.390sight of God, to give heedto you rather than to God, you22400:18:15.589 --> 00:18:21.109be the judge. Yeah, they'resaying, we follow God, we're going22500:18:21.190 --> 00:18:26.109to heed God, not men.They understood what the proper authority that they22600:18:26.259 --> 00:18:33.099needed to submit to was, andwe, of course, are under that22700:18:33.180 --> 00:18:41.059same authority. You're submitting to theLord and he is clear, which we22800:18:41.180 --> 00:18:45.930have talked about so many times,that we are called to speak for those22900:18:45.089 --> 00:18:48.490babies. Yeah, absolutely, weare to rescue those being led away to23000:18:48.569 --> 00:18:53.170death and we are to speak forthose who cannot speak for themselves. So23100:18:53.289 --> 00:19:00.319if we're being told be silent,we we can't, because that would be23200:19:00.440 --> 00:19:07.559heeding men rather than God when Godhas told us that we are to speak.23300:19:07.559 --> 00:19:10.990Yeah, yeah, and you kindof touched on it from kind of23400:19:11.029 --> 00:19:14.910like the individuals going into the abortioncenter telling us to shut up and not23500:19:15.069 --> 00:19:18.309to talk or whatever, and ofcourse pro aboords telling us to shut up,23600:19:18.390 --> 00:19:21.230not talk, and I won't goon a rabbit trail with this,23700:19:21.509 --> 00:19:26.140but certainly I think we realize moreand more in this day and age that23800:19:26.500 --> 00:19:32.299the government, the government, comingin city government's, state governments or whatever,23900:19:32.500 --> 00:19:34.180trying to pass laws and trying tomake it illegal for us to be24000:19:34.299 --> 00:19:40.049on the sidewalk things like that,is something we need to consider. I24100:19:40.170 --> 00:19:44.089mean, we dealt with that withthe whole coronavirus back in early part of24200:19:44.130 --> 00:19:47.049two thousand and twenty, when theybasically told us we couldn't be at on24300:19:47.089 --> 00:19:49.609the sidewalk or we couldn't be outin front of the abortion center's praying,24400:19:49.650 --> 00:19:55.200and of course we defied that becausewe knew that we have a mandate to24500:19:55.240 --> 00:19:57.599speak for those that can't speak forthemselves, and if they're letting the abortion24600:19:57.640 --> 00:20:03.599center be open and kill babies,then we need to be there. If24700:20:03.640 --> 00:20:07.910what they do inside of that abortioncenter is considered essential, then certainly what24800:20:08.029 --> 00:20:14.029we do and what we're called tois essential. Right. And Yeah,24900:20:14.190 --> 00:20:18.710we said that and we made thatstance. Took that stance with confidence and25000:20:18.430 --> 00:20:22.700really with this attitude. You,state of North Carolina, because that's who25100:20:22.740 --> 00:20:26.500we're dealing with at the time orcity of Charlotte. You you judge yourselves25200:20:26.579 --> 00:20:30.819whether it's right that we obey yourather than God. We're going to play25300:20:30.900 --> 00:20:36.009God, basically. Yeah, andfor a new councilor I think most of25400:20:36.009 --> 00:20:38.730the time, I think where someonestruggling with boldness is the cint their new25500:20:40.009 --> 00:20:45.690oftentimes they're new, you're young,or combination of the both. But what25600:20:45.890 --> 00:20:49.640I would advise, that is somethingyou can do is know the scripture.25700:20:49.799 --> 00:20:56.720Scour the scripture, find the biblicalcommands that support you being out there on25800:20:56.759 --> 00:21:00.000the sidewalk because, if you knowit is your authority, Jesus is saying25900:21:00.079 --> 00:21:03.720you need to be there. Now, he's not going to say the sidebox26000:21:03.799 --> 00:21:07.109of abortion centers, but he's goingto be clear that we're to speak for26100:21:07.589 --> 00:21:11.430those who can't speak and to protectthe vulnerable and hold back those being led26200:21:11.430 --> 00:21:15.750away to death. So the principlesare certainly there and if you know that,26300:21:15.390 --> 00:21:21.660you know what scripture says, youcan be more confident in then standing26400:21:21.980 --> 00:21:25.299firm, yeah, for what Godhas called you to do. On the26500:21:25.339 --> 00:21:27.380other hand, if you don't,if you don't know what scripture says,26600:21:27.579 --> 00:21:32.779you're probably not going to be realconfident or you're going to easily lose your26700:21:32.890 --> 00:21:37.170confidence and believe what the world istelling you. Yeah, absolutely, and26800:21:37.210 --> 00:21:41.970if our desire in our calling tobe on the sidewalk at the abortion centers26900:21:42.049 --> 00:21:47.240comes from anything other than the wordof God, it's a shaky foundation.27000:21:47.519 --> 00:21:49.160You know, we've talked about thisbefore, the motivations of the heart.27100:21:49.200 --> 00:21:55.480If you're if you're motivated by,you know, a political persuasion and that's27200:21:55.480 --> 00:21:59.000why you're on the sidewalk, you'regoing to be shaken. You have to27300:21:59.079 --> 00:22:03.349be able and you know, ifwe just dealt with something here in California27400:22:03.390 --> 00:22:07.029recently, there was a law thatwas passed by governors, governor newsome here,27500:22:08.029 --> 00:22:12.910and it look like initially there wassome concerns that you couldn't hand out27600:22:12.990 --> 00:22:18.220brochures within a hundred feet of theentrance of an abortion center. Now it's27700:22:18.299 --> 00:22:22.220not actually what the language was,but it could could have been construed in27800:22:22.339 --> 00:22:25.380some people and just reading it ina cursory way, it look like it27900:22:25.420 --> 00:22:30.890could have been construed to say that, thank God it's not and it doesn't28000:22:30.930 --> 00:22:33.809really affect what we're doing. Butit is that. I was telling our28100:22:33.809 --> 00:22:38.450people here locally, any of theselaws that they pass that have anything to28200:22:38.529 --> 00:22:44.089do with being at the abortion centerreally had to do with filming people and28300:22:44.170 --> 00:22:49.000taking pictures of people that are goingin, like taking pictures of abortion patients28400:22:49.119 --> 00:22:55.119and posting those online or threatening topost those online and expose people for having28500:22:55.160 --> 00:22:57.240abortions and stuff. We don't dothat. It's not something we do.28600:22:57.359 --> 00:23:00.029It's not something we see to bewhat God has called us to do,28700:23:02.509 --> 00:23:04.710and so it's not a concern forus. But what I'm saying is,28800:23:04.990 --> 00:23:11.309as they pass more and more ofthese like really freedom of speech laws and28900:23:11.390 --> 00:23:15.940things like that, it is theseare incremental steps from the pro abortion side29000:23:17.180 --> 00:23:19.700because ultimately they want us off thesidewalk. They don't want us out there.29100:23:19.779 --> 00:23:23.140They wanted to be like, Ithink in Canada they've got some laws29200:23:23.180 --> 00:23:27.769where you can't be within a hundredfeet of an abortion center. In Australia,29300:23:29.009 --> 00:23:30.529I know we've got some connections withfolks there. I think you have29400:23:30.609 --> 00:23:34.970to be, I don't even know, three hundred meters away from an abortion29500:23:36.130 --> 00:23:40.049center if you're going to be,quote, protesting. There's going to be29600:23:40.089 --> 00:23:44.119a point, I believe, andless God brings US sends us revival in29700:23:44.240 --> 00:23:47.319this nation where we're going to betold it's illegal to be out there on29800:23:47.400 --> 00:23:49.079the sidewalk. And again, thisis a little bit of a rab it29900:23:49.160 --> 00:23:53.000true, but we need to haveboldness and confidence, because if our confidence30000:23:53.079 --> 00:23:56.670is just in you know, we'vecalled ourselves into this ministry and we don't30100:23:56.710 --> 00:24:00.829really have a solid foundation of theword of God like the disciples did.30200:24:00.910 --> 00:24:03.549Hear they had a solid foundation withJesus told them. So they could with30300:24:03.710 --> 00:24:11.299confidence defy the governing authorities because theyhad someone's word who spoke more authoritatively than30400:24:11.339 --> 00:24:15.819their word, like the Pharisees,the Sadducees, that sanhedrink council. They30500:24:15.859 --> 00:24:22.460had authority for sure, but thedisciples knew that the authority they were under30600:24:22.579 --> 00:24:25.890was higher than the authority of thesepeople. And we need to know what30700:24:26.049 --> 00:24:29.130we're doing, and I think thisis maybe a key to this thing,30800:24:29.250 --> 00:24:33.329to boldness really, is to knowthat we're operating under an authority that's higher30900:24:33.450 --> 00:24:37.599than any other authority. Right,operating under an authority, the Authority of31000:24:37.680 --> 00:24:44.119Jesus Christ, that's higher than governmentauthorities, that's higher than you planned parenthood31100:24:44.160 --> 00:24:48.839or the abortion center with their authorityis and of course, the authority of31200:24:48.880 --> 00:24:52.509any other entity. Right, andso that's really, I think, where31300:24:52.549 --> 00:24:57.789we get our boldness from is thatwe know with confidence whose authority were operating31400:24:57.789 --> 00:25:00.990under. I go back to Davidas. He was a shepherd boy.31500:25:02.589 --> 00:25:07.299He knew whose authority he was operatingunder. Right, he was operating under31600:25:07.299 --> 00:25:11.700the authority of the Living God,and he knew he would have victory because31700:25:11.740 --> 00:25:17.140of that. Yeah, so thedisciples not only knew who was their authority,31800:25:17.700 --> 00:25:22.809they knew script and and they believedit and they knew that it pointed31900:25:22.890 --> 00:25:29.289to Jesus. Yeah, but theyalso had a community of believers, and32000:25:29.369 --> 00:25:33.009I think that's one of the nextkey point. That's that comes through in32100:25:33.410 --> 00:25:37.680acts four of why they were sobold. They just been arrested. Jail32200:25:37.799 --> 00:25:42.480was not a pleasant place back inthose days. They didn't have televisions enough,32300:25:44.039 --> 00:25:48.200you know, and and gourmet mealsor windows with the sun streaming through.32400:25:48.920 --> 00:25:52.269So right after their release, youknow what they did and and I32500:25:52.390 --> 00:25:56.670guess I never really noticed this,they they went to their companions, the32600:25:56.750 --> 00:26:03.109the verse tells us, and we'remeeting. Basically they did. But but32700:26:03.380 --> 00:26:07.059don't get ahead of me in aprayer, because we've got that's actually different.32800:26:07.099 --> 00:26:07.980We are going to talk about that, but that's different. But let32900:26:07.980 --> 00:26:11.299me let me read the the versefirst. It's in as four hundred and33000:26:11.299 --> 00:26:18.059twenty three. When they had beenreleased, they went to their own companions33100:26:18.299 --> 00:26:23.170and reported all that that the chiefpriests in the elders had said to them.33200:26:23.650 --> 00:26:30.450So I think this is a very, very important point. Jesus always33300:26:30.490 --> 00:26:34.000sends us out at least in groupsof two for any kind of ministry.33400:26:34.079 --> 00:26:37.200Right. Well, there's all kindsof reasons for that, but one reason33500:26:37.440 --> 00:26:44.119is when we're going through trials orany kind of persecution, when you're all33600:26:44.200 --> 00:26:48.069alone, it's a whole lot harderto endure. Absolutely. But if you33700:26:48.309 --> 00:26:52.190have companions, people you can goto, you can you can tell them33800:26:52.309 --> 00:26:59.230what happened, you can be encouragedand and edified and held up by them33900:27:00.029 --> 00:27:07.099it, it makes it easier tostand firm have that group supporting you.34000:27:07.099 --> 00:27:15.099So a supportive community is so criticaland you can build that. You know,34100:27:15.180 --> 00:27:18.089applying that to sidewalk ministry. Wedo it with we have a personal34200:27:18.210 --> 00:27:23.809facebook group for our community of volunteers. We have a group email where we34300:27:23.930 --> 00:27:30.599contact them, we have ongoing grouptraining, we do get togethers and then34400:27:30.640 --> 00:27:34.480we've got the actual team structure foreach day, where there's a team lead34500:27:34.559 --> 00:27:41.480that's staying in touch with every memberso that there is always a community that34600:27:41.160 --> 00:27:48.509we can go to to be maybeto complain a little sometimes and how to34700:27:48.630 --> 00:27:52.829talk about what we've been through,where we know we're going to be with34800:27:52.910 --> 00:27:57.819people who understand and who who willsupport us. Yeah, yeah, I34900:27:57.900 --> 00:28:03.619would say we have technology in thisday and age that lets us do things35000:28:03.700 --> 00:28:07.779that these folks couldn't do. Yeah, they went because, you know,35100:28:07.940 --> 00:28:11.180that's what they had at their disposal, to gather together in set a prayer35200:28:11.259 --> 00:28:17.250meeting. Yeah, we've got socialmedia and though facebook may be a horrible35300:28:17.329 --> 00:28:19.410thing in a lot of ways itis and social media can be a horrible35400:28:19.490 --> 00:28:23.329distraction, some of the things thatwe've found, one of the really,35500:28:25.769 --> 00:28:30.920I think, important aspects of socialmedia for us is that connection that we35600:28:32.000 --> 00:28:36.519have. We have a secret group, like you mentioned, that is just35700:28:36.839 --> 00:28:40.440in Charlotte, and each of ourcities are have this or are forming this.35800:28:40.720 --> 00:28:44.029There's some kind of way that onlypeople that are on the sidewalk can35900:28:44.109 --> 00:28:47.589really converse with each other and itkind of you know, it's exclusive,36000:28:47.630 --> 00:28:52.990right, and it's exclusive on purposebecause that context on the sidewalk is so36100:28:52.029 --> 00:28:57.299unique and you could say some thingsin a public setting that people just wouldn't36200:28:57.299 --> 00:29:00.980understand, like they just they they'renot picking up what you're laying down.36300:29:02.539 --> 00:29:04.339But you say it into a groupof people that are minister on the sidewalks36400:29:04.380 --> 00:29:08.420and like they know exactly what you'retalking about and there's a certain encouragement that36500:29:08.539 --> 00:29:11.369can come right. There's a certainway that we can encourage each other that36600:29:11.490 --> 00:29:17.849maybe wouldn't be encouraging for other peoplein other ministerial settings, right. And36700:29:18.009 --> 00:29:21.930so that secret facebook group just seeingon a regular basis what God is doing.36800:29:22.049 --> 00:29:23.680So just so you guys know howwe structure our teams. You know,36900:29:23.759 --> 00:29:29.799we've got our sidewalk teams. Thatthe latrobe abortion center in particular,37000:29:29.839 --> 00:29:32.599because they're open six days a week. We have a Monday team, a37100:29:32.680 --> 00:29:36.079Tuesday team, Wednesday team, soforth and so on. Then we have37200:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.549a as we're building this. Soyou guys pray for us on this.37300:29:38.630 --> 00:29:41.789You want to build afternoon teams.So we'll have a Monday morning team and37400:29:41.910 --> 00:29:45.869a Monday afternoon team. Each ofthose teams will have a team lead and37500:29:45.950 --> 00:29:51.430so that person and has some responsibilitiesand all that stuff. But that team37600:29:51.950 --> 00:29:55.099they converse with each other, theyencourage each other for the stuff that happens37700:29:55.180 --> 00:29:57.980on Monday. Right the Tuesday team, there's some unique things that happen on37800:29:59.099 --> 00:30:02.339Tuesdays and so they they encourage eachother. They're intentional. I think they've37900:30:02.339 --> 00:30:07.210have like text groups or whatever,and then we've got that group where all38000:30:07.369 --> 00:30:10.410of the people that volunteer. Theteam leads and all the people that volunteer38100:30:10.490 --> 00:30:15.490can just talk. But the Mondayteam will share on Monday, when they're38200:30:15.490 --> 00:30:18.490done with ministry, just a quicklittle summary of what happened out there and38300:30:18.650 --> 00:30:22.079that's a way for you know,Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and the other38400:30:22.160 --> 00:30:26.000teams to see what God's doing onMonday. It's just a way to build38500:30:26.000 --> 00:30:29.519that camaraderie. It's a way toshare our burdens. You know, maybe38600:30:29.640 --> 00:30:34.359the Tuesday team experience some kind of, I don't know, explosive situation with38700:30:34.440 --> 00:30:37.990one of the pro boards or somelike something like that. I think a38800:30:37.029 --> 00:30:41.670couple of weeks ago there was asituation with one of the police officers who's38900:30:41.829 --> 00:30:45.309kind of a knucklehead that was causingsome problems and in one of the teams39000:30:45.349 --> 00:30:47.990put some videos out there. We'reable to kind of talk around that,39100:30:48.109 --> 00:30:52.420encourage each other all for some adviceand things like that, and that's really39200:30:52.579 --> 00:30:55.980it speaks to that community of believers. Now I will say, above and39300:30:56.019 --> 00:30:57.619beyond anything, you need to bein church. You need to be in39400:30:57.660 --> 00:31:02.980a community of believers within a localchurch, the church chair, you need39500:31:03.140 --> 00:31:06.410to be in that. No doubtabout it. You should be. I39600:31:06.529 --> 00:31:10.130think if, especially if it's ahuge church, you probably need to have39700:31:10.210 --> 00:31:12.650a small group within that church orsomething, people that you can really connect39800:31:12.690 --> 00:31:15.690with. You, as they say, do life with right. We need39900:31:15.690 --> 00:31:22.000to have people that we can communewith on that on that level. Beyond40000:31:22.039 --> 00:31:23.799that, though, if you're doingsidewalk ministry, you need to have some40100:31:25.119 --> 00:31:29.119way to communicate on a regular basiswith people that are also doing sidewalk ministry40200:31:29.119 --> 00:31:33.309because, again, there's some particularthings that some encouragements that can come from40300:31:33.309 --> 00:31:37.190people that know that setting, thatknow that ministry, that other people just40400:31:37.349 --> 00:31:41.309can't give to you. Some challengesthat you face, questions that you ask40500:31:41.950 --> 00:31:47.940that other people that are not involvedin this ministry really just don't know anything40600:31:47.980 --> 00:31:52.819about. So that community of believersis really important. It is really important,40700:31:52.819 --> 00:31:55.460and they make that clear and actfor but I think they it is40800:31:55.619 --> 00:31:59.500doubly important when you're in ending kindof ministry where you're going to face persecution,40900:31:59.579 --> 00:32:05.450and this is a ministry of persecution, constant persecution. You're going to41000:32:05.490 --> 00:32:10.089be taunted, threatened, terrible language, things thrown at you, car swerving41100:32:10.170 --> 00:32:15.480to hit you, whatever. It'sdaily, it's regular. You Are we41200:32:15.640 --> 00:32:21.319calling the Ministry of rejection. Right, people aren't for these things that you're41300:32:21.319 --> 00:32:23.440angry with it. Now, thatdoesn't happen all the time, that people41400:32:23.720 --> 00:32:27.960throw things at you, but itcan't happen from ten from from time to41500:32:28.079 --> 00:32:32.029time. But one of the mostpotentially discouraging things is when people just playing41600:32:32.109 --> 00:32:37.269ignore you. Right, that's theMinistry of rejection. You're being rejected,41700:32:37.349 --> 00:32:40.589and so that that can be discouragingas well, which, again, we41800:32:40.670 --> 00:32:44.940all experience that. If you're inthe sidewalk and you can encourage each other41900:32:45.500 --> 00:32:50.500in line of that, that's right. So, so it is a ministry42000:32:50.500 --> 00:32:55.380of persecution and when there is persecution, people who are being similarly persecuted are42100:32:55.500 --> 00:32:59.210the ones you're going to want togo to. That community of people who42200:32:59.210 --> 00:33:01.410are going to understand. But,and now you can talk about what you42300:33:01.490 --> 00:33:06.210were going to talk about. Theyalso prayed. It became a prayer session.42400:33:06.250 --> 00:33:07.849I'll read the verse and then youcan talk about that, because it's42500:33:07.890 --> 00:33:14.359also key, a key element ofboldness, and I don't think I've ever42600:33:14.400 --> 00:33:19.039seen a verse that points that outmore clearly than this one. Acts and42700:33:19.039 --> 00:33:22.319thirty one, so it said.And when they had prayed, so they42800:33:22.400 --> 00:33:24.839meet together, they gathered, theybasically complain, they tell him what happened42900:33:25.319 --> 00:33:29.910when they were arrested and what theywere told. And when they had prayed,43000:33:30.430 --> 00:33:34.950the place where they had gathered togetherwas shaken and they were all filled43100:33:35.390 --> 00:33:37.950with the Holy Spirit. A keyon back to our original question. How43200:33:37.990 --> 00:33:40.779do you get filled with Holy Spirit? Will, apparently, prayer. They43300:33:40.940 --> 00:33:45.299plays a big part in that.They were all filled with the Holy Spirit43400:33:45.700 --> 00:33:52.619and began to speak the word ofGod with boldness. So isn't that interesting?43500:33:52.940 --> 00:34:00.289It was persecution, gathering with theCommunity of believers and then prayer,43600:34:00.009 --> 00:34:06.049and the result they were able tospeak the word of God with boldness.43700:34:06.130 --> 00:34:10.119Yeah, yeah, ultimately it's callingon the Lord right when you experience friction,43800:34:10.519 --> 00:34:15.719rejection, persecution out there on thesidewalk whatever it might be, you43900:34:16.280 --> 00:34:21.880need to be individually, certainly liftingup your prayer to the Lord, saying44000:34:21.960 --> 00:34:24.469God, you know, like theydid in this in this particular passage,44100:34:24.469 --> 00:34:28.750or like Lord, you see theirthreats and and all of this and they44200:34:28.750 --> 00:34:30.869kind of lay it out and thenof course the Lord shows up. So44300:34:31.190 --> 00:34:36.150maybe be doing that individually, certainly, but also have some times of corporate44400:34:36.309 --> 00:34:39.139prayer together, and I would sayagain, you know it's not always easy44500:34:39.260 --> 00:34:43.699to do that. I'm trying todo that here in southern California as we're44600:34:43.739 --> 00:34:46.619meeting together on Sunday evenings, justkind of opening up our home here and44700:34:46.659 --> 00:34:52.099just inviting everybody to come who's apart of love life here in southern California44800:34:52.139 --> 00:34:54.489and let's just have a time toworship and pray together. And that's that's44900:34:54.530 --> 00:34:58.570the point here, as I want. I want us to be praying for45000:34:58.570 --> 00:35:01.329each other, wants to be encouragingeach other. But maybe you don't have45100:35:01.489 --> 00:35:05.369that where you're at. Maybe it'sjust you serving on the sidewalk and there45200:35:05.409 --> 00:35:07.599aren't a lot of other folks aroundyou to be able to call a prayer45300:35:07.639 --> 00:35:14.000meeting like that. Ask Your Pastorput it before your pastor and say hey,45400:35:14.320 --> 00:35:17.320would you be willing to encourage thechurch, maybe put it in the45500:35:17.360 --> 00:35:22.150bulletin or whatever, to be prayingfor the ministry and just get folks praying45600:35:22.230 --> 00:35:27.030for you and God's going to God'sgoing to move, God's going to give45700:35:27.070 --> 00:35:30.030you boldness. Maybe he'll through thatprayer and that request for a prayer in45800:35:30.110 --> 00:35:34.510your congregation, maybe your small groupthat you meet with on a regular basis.45900:35:34.829 --> 00:35:37.619They're not, maybe involved on thesidewalk or whatever. You're praying that46000:35:37.659 --> 00:35:40.420they would. But put this outto them, put this out your struggles,46100:35:40.539 --> 00:35:45.539you're the stuff you're facing, andjust have them pray over you,46200:35:45.659 --> 00:35:49.659lay hands when you and pray overyou and you'd be surprised at how God46300:35:49.699 --> 00:35:54.530feels you with boldness for the battle. Yeah, and then I think also46400:35:55.210 --> 00:36:00.289reframing the idea of persecution as beinga bad thing. It's actually, in46500:36:00.409 --> 00:36:02.449many ways, a very good thing. You're not going to be persecuted if46600:36:02.449 --> 00:36:06.800you're of no threat to Satan.Specifically, if you're not a threat,46700:36:07.599 --> 00:36:12.039he'll let you go your married way. Yeah, so if not only are46800:36:12.199 --> 00:36:19.309you being persecuted because you are athreat to what Satan is trying to make46900:36:19.869 --> 00:36:23.389happen, the death of a babyand the destruction of these people's souls.47000:36:25.389 --> 00:36:34.460But persecution can also lead you tobe ultimately strengthened as you go to that47100:36:34.579 --> 00:36:37.099community of believers, as you engagein prayer, as you go back to47200:36:37.219 --> 00:36:43.019scripture to help shore you up.Yeah, you're ultimately bolder and strengthened in47300:36:43.139 --> 00:36:46.570your faith, and so persecution is, in many ways kind of a almost47400:36:46.570 --> 00:36:52.090a good thing. Yeah, yeah, I mean it's not fun. No47500:36:52.369 --> 00:36:55.849go through no, nobody. Iwas talking to a lady here in California47600:36:55.889 --> 00:37:01.719who's experiencing some, actually some,some rejection in her family for her stand47700:37:01.880 --> 00:37:06.760and for her being involved, evenon the sidewalk, and I was just47800:37:06.920 --> 00:37:09.360encouraging her. You know, whenyou when you surrendered your life to Jesus,47900:37:09.519 --> 00:37:13.039you made a commitment to him,Lord, I will serve you all48000:37:13.079 --> 00:37:15.309the days of my life, andhe made a commitment to you, and48100:37:15.469 --> 00:37:19.070his commitment to you was not justto take you to heaven. That's sort48200:37:19.110 --> 00:37:22.510of a brought by product. God'scommitment to you, and you became a48300:37:22.550 --> 00:37:25.429Christian, was to make you morelike Jesus, and you are never more48400:37:25.510 --> 00:37:30.860like Jesus than when you are beingrejected. You look at the Ministry of48500:37:30.860 --> 00:37:36.579Jesus and I'll certainly he walked invictory, he walked in intimacy with the48600:37:36.659 --> 00:37:40.780father. So that those things,that's that's being like Jesus. But also48700:37:40.860 --> 00:37:45.329he was rejected and misunderstood. Andif you're going to be like Jesus and48800:37:45.530 --> 00:37:50.769God's gonna grow you to be moreand more like his son, then you're48900:37:50.809 --> 00:37:53.690going to experience rejection and it's away for you to grow. Now your49000:37:53.809 --> 00:37:59.880reaction to that rejection is what reallydetermines whether or not you grow right.49100:37:59.920 --> 00:38:05.639If you just complain and you justwithdrawal, because that is the temptation when49200:38:05.719 --> 00:38:09.079we're rejected on the sidewalk, youknow, we could temptationism. I'm not49300:38:09.119 --> 00:38:14.030going back out there. There's peopledon't want me out there. The people49400:38:14.070 --> 00:38:15.710are obstinate, they're not listening,so I'm just not going back out there.49500:38:15.829 --> 00:38:19.030Well, of God called you tothere. He didn't change his mind.49600:38:19.190 --> 00:38:22.030So you need to be faithful andtake that rejection before the Lord,49700:38:22.510 --> 00:38:29.260bring it before other believers that canbe praying for you and and let God49800:38:29.500 --> 00:38:32.739teach you to be more like Jesusthrough it. Yeah, now the the49900:38:34.019 --> 00:38:42.170acts for believers had something that appearsto have been maybe even different than than50000:38:42.250 --> 00:38:46.849what we have now, but theyseem to be very unified and I think50100:38:46.969 --> 00:38:52.889that that is a key point inthat community of believers being as strong as50200:38:52.969 --> 00:38:59.920they can possibly be, in supportingindividuals that are in ministry and supporting each50300:38:59.920 --> 00:39:05.679other and in building and growing thechurch is being unified. And and saw50400:39:05.800 --> 00:39:09.110read you the the passage, thecouple of verses that that talk about that,50500:39:09.230 --> 00:39:14.949and maybe we can talk about howwhy they were so unified and how50600:39:15.070 --> 00:39:19.110that was useful and maybe how weas as the church, can work more50700:39:19.269 --> 00:39:22.349towards unity. But in acts forthirty two to thirty three, it says,50800:39:22.429 --> 00:39:28.019and the congregation of those who believedwere of one heart and soul,50900:39:28.780 --> 00:39:32.019and not one of them claimed thatanything, anything belonging to him, was51000:39:32.139 --> 00:39:37.219his own, but all things werecommon property to them. I do not51100:39:37.340 --> 00:39:42.889think this is a treatise on communism, but I do think it. I51200:39:43.090 --> 00:39:51.530do think it is talking about theprob make that good is there into communism51300:39:52.849 --> 00:39:57.239and with great power the apostles.It comes after, by the way,51400:39:57.320 --> 00:40:01.039talking about this unity, notice thenext phrase. And with great power the51500:40:01.159 --> 00:40:07.190apostles were giving testimony to the resurrectionof the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace51600:40:07.389 --> 00:40:13.510was upon them all. So therewas something very important about that und of51700:40:13.550 --> 00:40:17.989the believers that they were of oneheart and one soul and they recognize that51800:40:19.429 --> 00:40:23.380everything they had basically didn't belong tothem. Yeah, it belonged to the51900:40:23.500 --> 00:40:28.739Lord. It was all from theLord and it was all to be given52000:40:28.860 --> 00:40:35.380back to the Lord. So thatthat unity when when we are one in52100:40:35.460 --> 00:40:39.570Christ. You know, you've heardthere's so many kind of slogans. United52200:40:39.610 --> 00:40:45.090we stand, divided we fall.A house divided against itself will not stand.52300:40:45.250 --> 00:40:51.360Those are also biblical verses. Yeah, but there's so many verses that52400:40:51.599 --> 00:40:57.880talk about unity of the body.Yeah, that's where we find a community52500:40:58.719 --> 00:41:01.760that is most going to be ableto stand around us and give us boldness.52600:41:01.800 --> 00:41:06.510Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. And you know, I know52700:41:06.630 --> 00:41:09.230that we're speaking to people who arein cities, who are in cities where52800:41:09.269 --> 00:41:14.510love life is and there is agroup that's there with you, people that52900:41:14.550 --> 00:41:16.429are served alongside you. Maybe asmall group it, maybe a bigger group.53000:41:17.230 --> 00:41:22.699But then also we're speaking to peoplewho maybe just starting prolife ministry,53100:41:22.739 --> 00:41:25.980who maybe not a part of lovelife or whatever reason, and they're just53200:41:27.099 --> 00:41:30.019starting and maybe you're by yourself,and so it's hard to kind of imagine.53300:41:30.699 --> 00:41:35.969We're talking about unity, we're talkingabout the body of Christ, this53400:41:36.130 --> 00:41:40.329community of believers working together, andyou're not seeing that as far as prolife53500:41:40.409 --> 00:41:45.489ministry is concerned. And so Iwant to speak to that real quick and53600:41:45.610 --> 00:41:49.159just encourage you that, yes,you may not have a team yet,53700:41:49.239 --> 00:41:52.320they can share these burdens, butthat's why you need to be a part53800:41:52.360 --> 00:41:54.480of a local church, because youcan still share your burdens. Even though53900:41:54.519 --> 00:42:02.190there is a unique aspect to thisministry, it's not so unique that other54000:42:02.309 --> 00:42:06.389people, other believers in Jesus,can't relate to it. You need to54100:42:06.429 --> 00:42:12.909be in close fellowship with other believersand get encouragement from other believers. And54200:42:13.070 --> 00:42:15.460you'd be surprised again, as youput these prayer requests out to people and54300:42:15.500 --> 00:42:20.539you have people praying for you.You know, I knew, I think54400:42:20.659 --> 00:42:23.900Trese, who's our missionary in Washington. She's got a small team there,54500:42:24.500 --> 00:42:28.940but she also has a team ofpeople praying for her. So, even54600:42:28.980 --> 00:42:31.010though they're not on the sidewalk,she asked people within her church and with54700:42:31.090 --> 00:42:37.250an in other congregations. Can yoube praying while we're out there, and54800:42:37.610 --> 00:42:40.250that is kind of helping build aunity in that camaraderie. Even though they54900:42:40.289 --> 00:42:44.679can't be out there on the sidewalk, she's got people behind her that are55000:42:44.719 --> 00:42:49.440praying that that unity is there andthat's powerful. I actually did that myself55100:42:49.840 --> 00:42:52.440as I was here in California.We're in kind of a little uncommon scenario55200:42:52.519 --> 00:42:55.000for our family. We're not usedto being out here on the left coast,55300:42:55.159 --> 00:42:59.989you know, and there's some challengesand stuff and certainly anytime we step55400:43:00.030 --> 00:43:02.349out and obey God there's challenges.And so I reached out to some brothers55500:43:02.429 --> 00:43:07.590that I know, that I trustand that I know will be serious about55600:43:07.590 --> 00:43:12.150praying for me and assembled myself aprayer team. These are brothers that are55700:43:12.150 --> 00:43:15.539not necessarily involved in this type ofministries. Matter of fact, I don't55800:43:15.539 --> 00:43:17.579think any of them are involved inthis type of ministry, but they're involved55900:43:17.579 --> 00:43:21.500in ministry in some capacity, andso I reached out, Hey, will56000:43:21.539 --> 00:43:22.820you pray for me on Monday?Will you pray for me on Tuesday?56100:43:22.980 --> 00:43:27.650Just five, ten minutes a day, just focused prayer, and so I56200:43:27.769 --> 00:43:30.170simpled a prayer team for our ministryout here, for what God's called us56300:43:30.170 --> 00:43:35.329to here in southern California. AndI'm telling you, I have experienced since56400:43:35.690 --> 00:43:38.889since that was in place, Ihave experienced some victories that I was not56500:43:39.090 --> 00:43:44.679seeing before and just encouraged by whatthe Lord is doing. So that's a56600:43:44.800 --> 00:43:49.119way get creative, in the waysthat you get people connected kind of with56700:43:49.320 --> 00:43:54.869you and encouraging you along, becauseyou need that encouragement that comes from being56800:43:54.949 --> 00:44:00.510unified with the body of Christ.Yeah, and and of course the danger56900:44:00.869 --> 00:44:07.670for any group is that there willbe bickering, backbiting, gossip and disunity.57000:44:07.710 --> 00:44:13.219Yeah, even disagreement, which wedo see in the book of acts.57100:44:13.219 --> 00:44:16.780There are disagreements that occur at differenttimes. They and sometimes they're handled57200:44:16.860 --> 00:44:21.940well and sometimes they're not. Ithink we did a podcast on dealing with57300:44:22.460 --> 00:44:25.409if there's disunity, how to dowith that. Yeah, I mean you57400:44:25.489 --> 00:44:30.809see it the next chapter, thatsix. Accept six is when basically the57500:44:30.889 --> 00:44:38.000there was some confusion or disunity overthe distribution of, apparently food for widows.57600:44:38.519 --> 00:44:44.079So yes, right, the Helenais widows were being neglected, and57700:44:44.280 --> 00:44:46.840so there's this this whole thing.This is right after this awesome unity and57800:44:47.480 --> 00:44:51.679where the building is shaken because theyall pray together, and just how they57900:44:51.920 --> 00:44:55.869can call apart right, I mean, yes, right after this, what58000:44:57.030 --> 00:45:00.309people say is communism kind of tookplace, which is not this. People58100:45:00.309 --> 00:45:01.909willfully giving up their goods. Bythe way, communism is not that.58200:45:02.349 --> 00:45:07.380But after this awesome display of unity, nobody considered their stuff to be their58300:45:07.380 --> 00:45:10.179own right, and then a coupleof chapters later, here they are fighting58400:45:10.260 --> 00:45:15.340over these widows getting neglected, andso, yeah, this unity can creep58500:45:15.420 --> 00:45:19.980in. It's yeah, I meanit's a human propensity to kind of be58600:45:20.099 --> 00:45:24.010selfish and think about ourselves and andnot strive for unity. And so we58700:45:24.170 --> 00:45:28.610do need to be intentional about strivingfor unity. But again, that all58800:45:28.769 --> 00:45:31.170comes from us. We need tobe in the word of God. God58900:45:31.210 --> 00:45:36.840will confront us. Well, we'renot walking in love toward our other brothers59000:45:36.880 --> 00:45:42.159and sisters that either were serving withor maybe we're not serving with. God59100:45:42.199 --> 00:45:45.760will confront us right, gotta Gott'llshow us in his word and in our59200:45:45.840 --> 00:45:50.909time with him that we're not doingwhat's right and he'll correct us. And59300:45:51.230 --> 00:45:54.510we're unified around the truth of whoGod is that's found in his word.59400:45:55.070 --> 00:46:00.590That's right and you can't control ifothers are going to cause division or be59500:46:00.750 --> 00:46:06.099gossips or whatever, but you cancontrol yourself and and save gotta you know59600:46:06.340 --> 00:46:09.179you be. You be as muchas you can. You be a source59700:46:09.219 --> 00:46:16.260of unifying as opposed to divisiveness,and that goes a long way towards solving59800:46:16.340 --> 00:46:24.130that problem of disunity. But anotherway, I think, to to be59900:46:24.369 --> 00:46:30.610unified as the community is to keepyour eyes on the goal. Keep your60000:46:30.650 --> 00:46:34.960eyes on the goal, keep yourfocus where it where it needs to be,60100:46:36.000 --> 00:46:39.079and in in acts, going backagain at the beginning of acts.60200:46:39.559 --> 00:46:45.519But it is because of all theseother things that we have gone through.60300:46:45.440 --> 00:46:52.190This is the result when we doall these things, when we are filled60400:46:52.230 --> 00:46:59.510with the Holy Spirit in prayer,in community, unified, bold because we60500:47:00.429 --> 00:47:07.420know the scriptural underpinnings that have commandedus us to be bold. And in60600:47:07.539 --> 00:47:13.820that verse it said but many ofthose who had heard the message believed and60700:47:13.980 --> 00:47:17.329the number of the men came tobe about five thousand. I mean that's60800:47:17.409 --> 00:47:25.210an enormous revival in in because oftheir boldness and that they had all of60900:47:25.369 --> 00:47:34.480these things in place that we talkedabout. There were five thousand people brought61000:47:34.800 --> 00:47:38.559to the Lord through through their boldmessage, through their proclamation. So,61100:47:39.079 --> 00:47:44.159Um, you know, if wekeep our eyes on what the goal is61200:47:45.630 --> 00:47:51.030and and we remember all of thesethings that we've talked about in the in61300:47:51.150 --> 00:47:59.179this podcast, it amazing miracles canhappen. And we sometimes think the goal61400:47:59.420 --> 00:48:04.579is saving babies lives, and thatmight be in a way, it's almost61500:48:04.619 --> 00:48:10.099a byproduct, but the that's notthe overarching goal. The true goal,61600:48:10.659 --> 00:48:15.010the you know, the most importantgoal, yeah, which is supportant claim,61700:48:15.889 --> 00:48:20.610is the glorified Jesus and, asyou're about to say, proclaim his61800:48:20.769 --> 00:48:23.130word. Yeah, and then hedoes the he does the baby saving.61900:48:23.889 --> 00:48:29.440That's word doesn't return void and itgoes forth and babies are saved, souls62000:48:29.480 --> 00:48:34.199are saved, and you know thatthat is the goal. Glorified Jesus,62100:48:34.840 --> 00:48:39.440that is and a great kind ofclosing verset. That that I found in62200:48:39.599 --> 00:48:45.550Psalm when I did a weird studyof bold was from Psalms one hundred and62300:48:45.550 --> 00:48:49.670thirty eight, verse three. Onthe day I called, you answered me,62400:48:50.429 --> 00:48:55.059you made me bold with strength inmy soul. I can reiterating what62500:48:55.139 --> 00:48:59.460we've said all along. It isit is God, ultimately, that that62600:48:59.619 --> 00:49:01.900gives us the boldness that we need. We need it. You know he'll62700:49:01.940 --> 00:49:06.659give us what we need. Amen. Amen. Yeah. Well, guys,62800:49:06.739 --> 00:49:08.619we hope that this podcast was anencouragement to you. We hope that62900:49:08.699 --> 00:49:14.409it encourages you to be bold,to be confident in the Lord, not63000:49:14.570 --> 00:49:16.809in the flesh. And so,if this was a blessing to you,63100:49:16.929 --> 00:49:21.650as we encouraged you at the verybeginning, share this podcast episode with other63200:49:21.769 --> 00:49:24.800folks. If you have questions ormaybe other subjects you'd like for us to63300:49:24.880 --> 00:49:28.400cover, we'd love to hear fromyou. You can reach out to me,63400:49:28.440 --> 00:49:30.840Daniel at Love Life Dot Org,and reach her, Vicki a love63500:49:30.920 --> 00:49:36.440life dot Org. We'd love tohear from you, and also consider leaving63600:49:36.480 --> 00:49:40.789us a review. Maybe you're usingapple podcast or some other podcast service.63700:49:42.269 --> 00:49:45.750Leave us a good review, fivestars, if you think we deserve it,63800:49:45.389 --> 00:49:50.590and that would be a tremendous blessingto us. But until next time,63900:49:50.789 --> 00:50:02.219God bless got that shall give meour love for love, give me64000:50:04.019 --> 00:50:15.250our love for gratitude. I knowit will cost me my life. Nothing's64100:50:15.369 --> 00:50:19.010too precious in some you