Should We Keep Track of Numbers in Prolife Ministry?

WEBVTT100:00:00.560 --> 00:00:05.759I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours s and me.200:00:06.120 --> 00:00:10.269Lord. Just a few weeks agowe celebrated five thousand babies saved through the300:00:10.310 --> 00:00:13.550Ministry of Cities for life here inCharlotte. But is it biblical to keep400:00:13.589 --> 00:00:17.109track of numbers or is it justprideful? And what are the benefits and500:00:17.230 --> 00:00:20.550some of the downsides of keeping trackof numbers? Join us as we look600:00:20.550 --> 00:00:29.059at this from a Gospel centered perspective. I felt show passish touch your heart.700:00:33.219 --> 00:00:37.049Welcome to the Gospel Center pro lifepodcast and this episode we're going to800:00:37.130 --> 00:00:42.810talk about numbers. We've recently,as a ministry, celebrated five thousand baby900:00:42.890 --> 00:00:46.250saved. We praise God for that. We had a little celebration here with1000:00:46.329 --> 00:00:52.479our volunteers at the office and celebratedwhat God has done since since actually before1100:00:52.679 --> 00:00:57.560cities for life got started, rightsome folks started keeping numbers back in two1200:00:57.640 --> 00:01:00.200thousand and eight. Cities for lifegot started officially in two thousand and ten.1300:01:00.359 --> 00:01:03.310A lot of those folks are keepingkeeping numbers. Are Part of the1400:01:03.430 --> 00:01:10.069original cities for life crew. Anyway, we counted five thousand babies that have1500:01:10.150 --> 00:01:15.030been saved in that period of time. Here in Charlotte and you know,1600:01:15.109 --> 00:01:22.579I wanted to do a podcast tocelebrate that but also to ask the question,1700:01:23.620 --> 00:01:27.700is it really biblical to keep numbers? Is it really some thing that1800:01:27.780 --> 00:01:33.730we should do as a ministry?I know for me personally, before,1900:01:36.209 --> 00:01:38.290you know, I'd been out atLatrobe, the La tree abortion clinic,2000:01:38.409 --> 00:01:44.969since two thousand and five and reallydid not see the need to keep the2100:01:45.010 --> 00:01:49.799numbers of babies that were saved andsort I guess, you know, I2200:01:49.120 --> 00:01:53.120guess I wanted to view it asas like humility, like all, we2300:01:53.159 --> 00:01:56.920don't need to keep track of thenumbers and and all of that. And2400:01:57.159 --> 00:02:00.909I think it was really more pride, though. It was almost like,2500:02:01.510 --> 00:02:06.430you know, I'm so we're soawesome and so so humble. So it's2600:02:06.469 --> 00:02:09.069Neis is like this this pride forhumility, so humble, we don't need2700:02:09.069 --> 00:02:13.389to keep tracking numbers because it doesn'tGod knows. You know, sort of2800:02:13.430 --> 00:02:16.259that mentality right, and you know, I regret not Havn't kept track of2900:02:16.300 --> 00:02:20.860those numbers, because there are,you know, there were some Saturdays at3000:02:20.900 --> 00:02:23.340that time, Saturday's were the busiestday where we would see, you know,3100:02:23.460 --> 00:02:28.379three, four, five babies savedin one Saturday and we just didn't3200:02:28.419 --> 00:02:30.610get people to ask how many babieshave been saved over the past so and3300:02:30.729 --> 00:02:32.810so be like, Oh, Idon't know that almost would say it with3400:02:32.930 --> 00:02:36.449pride or I don't have a clue, but God knows. You know,3500:02:36.650 --> 00:02:39.090numbers don't matter it. Numbers don'tmatter. Obedience is yeah, are Imedia3600:02:39.169 --> 00:02:43.250are obedience and you know what.So we're going to talk through some of3700:02:43.289 --> 00:02:47.680that in this podcast because there aresome mentalities and I think it maybe there's3800:02:47.719 --> 00:02:53.840ditches on both sides, you know, where we take pride in the numbers3900:02:53.960 --> 00:02:58.120and all this, or we takepride and not keeping track numbers. You4000:02:58.199 --> 00:03:00.310know, ultimately, you know,I think we'll start the same way.4100:03:00.349 --> 00:03:06.189That will end. It's God thatdoes the baby saving, it's God that4200:03:06.310 --> 00:03:08.870does opening hearts, it's God thatdoes the saving, it's not us.4300:03:09.509 --> 00:03:14.219So we have to acknowledge that rightand if we acknowledge that and we keep4400:03:14.300 --> 00:03:17.979in that vain, then I thinkwe can guard ourselves against being prideful because,4500:03:19.020 --> 00:03:22.939you know, there are some thingsthat really irk me in you know,4600:03:23.099 --> 00:03:27.250in Christianity, in prolife ministry.They have to do with numbers.4700:03:27.409 --> 00:03:30.849You know, I do not likeyou know if anybody, if you work4800:03:30.930 --> 00:03:36.849for a pregnancy center and you usethis method to raise money and stuff,4900:03:36.849 --> 00:03:39.969I'm not you know, do whatyou do before the Lord. Okay,5000:03:40.009 --> 00:03:45.800but I do not like when,like pregnancy centers especially, talk about numbers5100:03:46.000 --> 00:03:50.080and talk about, you know,we saw this many baby saved and this5200:03:50.240 --> 00:03:53.000is how much it takes to savea baby. So, you know,5300:03:53.080 --> 00:03:55.830if you give us whatever it is, I don't know what the emacs,5400:03:55.870 --> 00:04:00.750allmount of numbers, excellentiment in that'llsave a baby. I don't like that.5500:04:00.870 --> 00:04:03.590Yeah, now that's a personal youknow, I'm not saying I don't5600:04:03.590 --> 00:04:06.750like it. And here's what theScripture says about not doing that, because5700:04:06.789 --> 00:04:11.060I don't know if anish scripture immediatelycomes to mind. That says, you5800:04:11.139 --> 00:04:15.099know, don't, don't. Ijust don't like the idea of putting a5900:04:15.099 --> 00:04:17.300price tag on our you know,save a baby for whatever, a hundred6000:04:17.339 --> 00:04:21.379dollars. That irks me. Couldbe a personal thing, but I think6100:04:21.420 --> 00:04:27.769it's I think it's the Lord orin me that doesn't like that. Could6200:04:27.769 --> 00:04:31.009be wrong about that, though.But also, like I said, there's6300:04:31.009 --> 00:04:33.850a ditch on both sides and there'sthis idea that you know, numbers don't6400:04:33.850 --> 00:04:40.399matter. It doesn't all that mattersis obedience and and on its face that's6500:04:40.519 --> 00:04:42.839true, and we're going to talkabout some of that and some of the6600:04:43.079 --> 00:04:46.079the points that we're going to talkthrough here on that. On its face6700:04:46.199 --> 00:04:49.439that's true. We're called to beobedient and we've talked about this another podcast.6800:04:49.519 --> 00:04:53.709Will Continue to talk about this.We're called to be obedient, whether6900:04:53.750 --> 00:04:57.629the numbers are there not. TheBible tells us, open your mouth for7000:04:57.709 --> 00:05:00.389the speechless and the cause of allwho are pointed it ou open your mouth,7100:05:00.389 --> 00:05:03.110judge righteously, plead the cause ofthe born needy. Period. It7200:05:03.189 --> 00:05:08.740doesn't say plead the cause of bornneedy. And unless you produce so many7300:05:08.779 --> 00:05:11.259babies being saved in this and thatand this and that, right can go7400:05:11.379 --> 00:05:13.779take a break. Then you cantake a break or you know, you7500:05:13.860 --> 00:05:15.779can't take a break. You know, whatever, whatever. Yeah, so7600:05:16.500 --> 00:05:19.620we're called to obedience, we're calledto obey the Lord will call to proclaim7700:05:19.699 --> 00:05:25.009the Gospel. But within that call, as we see, you know,7800:05:25.089 --> 00:05:30.290in particular the call of reclaiming theGospel, there is going to be fruit7900:05:30.329 --> 00:05:33.370that's going to be born, thereare going to be souls that are saved.8000:05:33.410 --> 00:05:36.240And I think we do see.If you know, we look at8100:05:36.279 --> 00:05:42.399this thing biblically, do numbers matter? If we look at it biblically,8200:05:43.079 --> 00:05:47.040you have an entire book of theBible called numbers. We have that in8300:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.430our bibles. It's in the OldTestament. If you don't know, it's8400:05:50.470 --> 00:05:56.670one of the five books of Moses. Right. Yeah, and so numbers8500:05:56.790 --> 00:06:00.430do matter and obviously your God wouldn'thave inspired a book of numbers. Yeah.8600:06:00.910 --> 00:06:03.420Now, of course we know thebook of numbers is not just about8700:06:04.379 --> 00:06:08.899tallying numbers. Of A lot ofit is, although a lot of it8800:06:09.100 --> 00:06:13.540is. Yeah, I mean that'sthe bulk of it is lineages and those8900:06:13.579 --> 00:06:17.259sort of things. But read thepassage you've got you've got written down here9000:06:17.610 --> 00:06:21.889from numbers that has to do withwell, it was pretty interesting when you9100:06:23.329 --> 00:06:25.889contacted me and said, Hey,what do you think? Would this be9200:06:26.009 --> 00:06:29.649a good topic? Who Does?Do numbers matter to God? Yeah,9300:06:29.769 --> 00:06:31.209and that was the day, Ithink, or the next day, I9400:06:31.410 --> 00:06:36.920started in my daily Bible reading.Just happened to be starting them. So9500:06:38.240 --> 00:06:42.040happen? Are flutes? Started toread in the book of numbers and the9600:06:42.040 --> 00:06:46.000Book of numbers is honestly my leastfavorite book, and it's filled with numbers9700:06:46.149 --> 00:06:49.670and and and you're not a numbersperson? No, I don't even love9800:06:49.829 --> 00:06:57.269numbers. But but God numbered everything, numbered the people, he numbered the9900:06:57.430 --> 00:07:01.379utensils used in service to him.He gave exact numbers in the building of10000:07:01.500 --> 00:07:05.660the temple. I mean numbers areand numbers have special meaning. Yeah,10100:07:05.899 --> 00:07:11.939numbers are often symbolic throughout the Bible, so numbers clearly matter to him.10200:07:11.939 --> 00:07:15.129Yeah, so here was, Ithought, a great verse just to start10300:07:15.170 --> 00:07:17.730us off. We're going to gointo a lot of verses, yeah,10400:07:17.850 --> 00:07:24.290over the course of this podcast.But this is not numbers for forty six10500:07:24.410 --> 00:07:28.810to forty nine. Okay, allthose who were listed, of the Levites,10600:07:29.089 --> 00:07:32.279who Moses and Darren and the chiefsof Israel, listed by their clans10700:07:32.519 --> 00:07:36.800and their father's houses, from thirtyyears old up to fifty years old,10800:07:38.480 --> 00:07:43.279everyone who could come to do theservice of Ministry and the service of bearing10900:07:43.360 --> 00:07:47.430burdens in the tent of meeting.Those listed were eight thousand, five hundred11000:07:47.470 --> 00:07:51.990and eighty. According to the commandmentsof the Lord through Moses, they were11100:07:53.110 --> 00:07:59.259listed, each one with his taskof serving or carrying. Thus they were11200:07:59.379 --> 00:08:03.779listed by him, as the Lordcommanded Moses. Yeah, say some really11300:08:03.939 --> 00:08:09.819critical concepts. Yeah, absolutely,Moses was commanded by God to list them.11400:08:11.459 --> 00:08:13.930They were to be listed. Allof those that were basically of eligible11500:08:15.129 --> 00:08:18.610service age were to be listed,not only to number how many of those11600:08:18.689 --> 00:08:24.449would be called to serve God,but the task. It also listed that11700:08:24.610 --> 00:08:31.959they would be called to do.Yea God. So so that's it,11800:08:31.080 --> 00:08:35.000I think, a great place toto start. that. Yet numbers,11900:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.679numbers were, you are, importantand used. Yeah, and then you12000:08:37.799 --> 00:08:41.950know, the the context that we'retalking about, and what brought this to12100:08:43.029 --> 00:08:46.070mind from me, was that we'veseen five thousand baby saved as a ministry.12200:08:46.669 --> 00:08:52.029And is it biblical for to usto keep back at those numbers?12300:08:52.710 --> 00:08:54.230And is it prideful? I meanto me, that would be my main12400:08:54.309 --> 00:08:58.700concern. Am I being prideful,because I don't. You know, our12500:08:58.740 --> 00:09:01.299goal is not to draw attention tous, it's draw attention to the Lord.12600:09:01.820 --> 00:09:05.580But when the Lord gives you aplatform and it gives you a ministry,12700:09:05.580 --> 00:09:07.539you want to make sure you're beingfruitful to so numbers are away for12800:09:07.620 --> 00:09:11.289us to to gage fruitfulness and we'llget into a little bit of that here12900:09:11.289 --> 00:09:15.450in just a minute. Yeah,but you know, you do have also,13000:09:15.570 --> 00:09:18.889you know, as we're thinking aboutministry and we're thinking about you know,13100:09:18.409 --> 00:09:22.850I mean we look at numbers ofpeople that are coming to the abortion13200:09:22.929 --> 00:09:28.559clinics. We need to look atthose numbers and the people that are flooding13300:09:28.600 --> 00:09:33.200into that place and then figure out, as a ministry, okay, how13400:09:33.200 --> 00:09:35.200many people do we need as volunteersout there on the sidewalk? You know,13500:09:35.279 --> 00:09:39.509that's something we're constantly looking at,YEP, trying to raise up more13600:09:39.590 --> 00:09:43.110numbers of people to be out thereso that we can be as effective as13700:09:43.190 --> 00:09:46.950possible reaching those people, because youknow as well as I do if you're13800:09:46.950 --> 00:09:52.830on the sidewalk there and it's justyou and another person and you've got a13900:09:52.940 --> 00:09:56.940flood of sometimes, you know,like on a Monday or Friday, which14000:09:56.980 --> 00:09:58.980are some of the busiest days,sometimes even on the Saturday it busy,14100:10:00.500 --> 00:10:03.220when you've got forty or fifty peoplecoming in, it's just two of you.14200:10:03.700 --> 00:10:05.460Right. I mean, numbers domatter, for sure, they're yeah,14300:10:05.460 --> 00:10:09.370right, you're like overwhelm. Nowwe take confidence in the Lord.14400:10:09.490 --> 00:10:13.649It's not about the numbers of people'syou know, the Lord can save by14500:10:13.730 --> 00:10:18.850few and by many. So youknow, we have to balance this idea14600:10:18.970 --> 00:10:22.960that you we need more people outthere in the sidewalk with this source,14700:10:22.960 --> 00:10:26.360of course, Biblical idea that we'vegot a trust in the Lord. So14800:10:26.360 --> 00:10:28.240we're not trusting in numbers. AndI think that would be the that would14900:10:28.240 --> 00:10:31.080be the issue if, if ourtrust is in numbers, if, as15000:10:31.240 --> 00:10:35.149if our trust is in having anumber of people out there on the sidewalk,15100:10:35.190 --> 00:10:39.230or our trust is in having anumber of baby saying that somehow makes15200:10:39.309 --> 00:10:45.350us better than someone else or makesus more more special to God or something15300:10:45.389 --> 00:10:50.259like that. So you've just listedso far two things that are a trap15400:10:50.700 --> 00:10:54.980of numbers, and the that's prideand trust. Yeah, our pride can't15500:10:54.019 --> 00:10:58.460be in those numbers and our trustcan't be in those numbers. Yeah,15600:10:58.539 --> 00:11:03.860but numbers do serve a useful purpose. And God says we're two or three15700:11:03.860 --> 00:11:07.769are gathered in my name. Sowe know that numbers matter, that they're15800:11:07.889 --> 00:11:11.850that he does want us you gathermore than just one. And then he15900:11:11.009 --> 00:11:16.330sent people out to ministry in two's, Ye, right, and they had16000:11:16.409 --> 00:11:20.799to be a minimum of two.And we do that even just for accountability,16100:11:20.840 --> 00:11:26.840safety purposes someone to videotape if somethingterrible happens. So again, those16200:11:26.919 --> 00:11:35.070numbers are important. Yeah, here'sa quote from Eugene Peterson, who theologian,16300:11:35.110 --> 00:11:39.549I think, is or commentator,Bible commentator, and he writes in16400:11:39.629 --> 00:11:45.110the in his introduction to the bookof numbers, we need organize as organizational16500:11:45.269 --> 00:11:48.659help. When people live together incommunity, jobs have to be assigned,16600:11:48.700 --> 00:11:56.419leaders appointed, inventories kept, countingand listing and rosters are as much a16700:11:56.580 --> 00:12:01.450part of being a community of Godas prayer and Instruction and justice. Accurate16800:12:01.490 --> 00:12:07.370Arithmetic is an aspect of becoming apeople of God. So I think he16900:12:07.610 --> 00:12:13.570lists some of the positive reasons fornumbers. Yeah, in in the book17000:12:13.649 --> 00:12:18.639of numbers itself. So and andthe book of numbers is a an accounting17100:12:18.720 --> 00:12:24.440of the soldiers for the Lord,the rosters and results of battles. I17200:12:24.519 --> 00:12:26.360mean he does talk about the resultsof the battles, which in a sense17300:12:26.519 --> 00:12:31.470is what we're doing right when we'reout on the sidewalk and we're recording the17400:12:31.509 --> 00:12:35.909numbers of baby safe. That's liketabulating in a sense, the results of17500:12:35.590 --> 00:12:41.389a battle, yes, spiritual battlethat day. Yeah, so you know,17600:12:41.470 --> 00:12:43.740there's some just one scripture that cameto mind for me and I was17700:12:43.779 --> 00:12:48.940actually looking for it. Why?You were talking sort of a funny scripture17800:12:48.940 --> 00:12:50.940about numbers to me. I meanmaybe there's some depth to this thing.17900:12:52.379 --> 00:12:54.740So maybe just were for me fora little bit of comic relief, talking18000:12:54.740 --> 00:12:58.690about numbers, because it is interesting, little bit of a rabbit trails.18100:12:58.889 --> 00:13:05.090It's interesting how often the Bible mentionsobscure numbers and just numbers of things and18200:13:05.450 --> 00:13:09.129things that are tabulated like you,like you mentioned there in the numbers passage,18300:13:09.169 --> 00:13:13.240and there's other places where things arenumbered and things are counted in all18400:13:13.320 --> 00:13:16.759this, and I think one sinceit shows us the the way that God18500:13:18.039 --> 00:13:20.480is pretty thorough in his word andthe way it God's people are pretty through18600:13:20.480 --> 00:13:24.080and he calls us to be through, and also the way that just knew18700:13:24.159 --> 00:13:26.590this is a practical book. TheBible's a practical book and it's his story.18800:13:26.710 --> 00:13:31.149Yes, I mean he actually counteda week at the actual numbers,18900:13:31.269 --> 00:13:35.350and you know, that shows Ithink that gives you a greater proof that19000:13:35.549 --> 00:13:41.820he was accurately recording history exactly.Yeah, and so this passage that's we're19100:13:41.899 --> 00:13:43.139something funny, is numbered to me. Okay, we're in. It's a19200:13:43.179 --> 00:13:46.580funny number. This is John Twentyone, okay, and this is the19300:13:46.659 --> 00:13:50.779story of so it's after the resurrectionof Jesus. The disciples have gone on19400:13:52.340 --> 00:13:56.169to go back to fishing and youknow, maybe there's some messages out there19500:13:56.250 --> 00:14:00.009about why they did this and thatwhatever, but Jesus is on the shore,19600:14:00.210 --> 00:14:03.370he sees them, they don't recognizehim. He tells them the cast19700:14:03.450 --> 00:14:07.570their nets. They cast their netsand when they get a miraculous catch of19800:14:07.649 --> 00:14:09.960fish, that's when Peter Realizes all. It's the Lord and he jumps into19900:14:09.960 --> 00:14:16.919the water. Anyway, says herein John Twenty one. In Verse Eleven20000:14:16.840 --> 00:14:20.480is eleven. Yeah, Verse Eleven, Simon Peber, Peter went up and20100:14:20.519 --> 00:14:24.230drag the net to the land fullof large fish. One hundred and fifty20200:14:24.389 --> 00:14:28.029three. So not just a roundnumber of a hundred fifty pound, a20300:14:28.070 --> 00:14:31.029hundred fifty, yeah, around ahundred fift notice it's a hundred and fifty20400:14:31.309 --> 00:14:35.629three, hundred fifty three. Soyou have to ask yourself like, okay,20500:14:35.789 --> 00:14:39.460why did John Record the exact numberof fish? Why a hundred fifty20600:14:39.500 --> 00:14:43.940three? And I'm sure there's theoriesout there. I'm sure probably this number20700:14:45.460 --> 00:14:50.059does have some kind of biblical significance, like some kind of underlying meaning.20800:14:50.259 --> 00:14:52.529I don't think we should question atall that there were exactly a hundred fifty20900:14:52.570 --> 00:14:54.970three fish. I mean there's noreason to believe there wasn't, because it's21000:14:56.049 --> 00:14:58.929God's word, right. But it'sfunny to me. A hundred fifty three21100:14:58.970 --> 00:15:01.570fish, yeah, why not justaround a hundred and fifty? Why did21200:15:01.809 --> 00:15:05.049just say, you know, theycaught a hundred or, you know,21300:15:05.169 --> 00:15:07.120some measurement of the day or whatever. Why did they have to count them21400:15:07.159 --> 00:15:11.759at all? It's something that I'mhoundering. Yeah, but I mean I21500:15:11.879 --> 00:15:16.720think it does speak to this thenature of God and his word being pretty21600:15:16.759 --> 00:15:22.029thorough with keeping tracking the numbers andkeeping track of even catches of fish,21700:15:22.429 --> 00:15:26.629and in this passage, I thinkit relates even very directly to what we're21800:15:26.629 --> 00:15:31.350talking about because again, it's aresult. It's a result of God's command.21900:15:31.549 --> 00:15:35.899They were obedient, and presumably Jesuswas there as they're counting the fish.22000:15:35.980 --> 00:15:39.059If that was like not to bedone, yeah, if we were22100:15:39.100 --> 00:15:41.340just supposed to say, well,we were obedient to you, Lord,22200:15:41.340 --> 00:15:45.779who cares? How many? WhoCares? I mean, yeah, but22300:15:45.980 --> 00:15:50.529he apparently approved of them counting thefish and they gave an exact count.22400:15:50.570 --> 00:15:54.129Yeah, at this point, thisis this is where he tells them,22500:15:54.210 --> 00:15:56.850he gives them some specific instructions.Cast your net on the right side of22600:15:56.929 --> 00:16:03.049the boat, and so they did, and they called that multitude a hundred22700:16:03.090 --> 00:16:04.519and fifty three fish. Anyway,to me, that's that's when I read22800:16:04.559 --> 00:16:08.480that passages, I'm like, Wow, Lord, you're pretty thorough. That's22900:16:08.639 --> 00:16:12.440that's a that's a funny number.That's a lot of fish to about.23000:16:12.519 --> 00:16:15.320It's a lot of it because theywere probably big fish. Those were what23100:16:15.399 --> 00:16:18.509it says large fish is a hundredfifty three. A large fish. There23200:16:18.509 --> 00:16:22.309were a hundred fifty right, andthey ate right away, some of those23300:16:22.389 --> 00:16:27.070fish. Yeah, yeah, soI wanted to point that. Well,23400:16:27.110 --> 00:16:30.870I don't think that's a rabbit trailat all. Actually, I think that's23500:16:30.110 --> 00:16:34.139the most pivotal verse even of allthe ones I gather up this because it's23600:16:34.179 --> 00:16:38.740very clear. God gave a command, the command was obeyed. HMM,23700:16:40.059 --> 00:16:44.539therey results and there was a counting, yeah, of the results. Yeah,23800:16:44.779 --> 00:16:48.889not for pride. But I thinkwhy? I think that's a great23900:16:48.929 --> 00:16:52.529question. Why? And I thinkI don't know all the answers of why,24000:16:52.610 --> 00:16:57.809but one immediate why answer that Ican think of is it points them24100:16:57.929 --> 00:17:06.720back to their obedience to God producedthis enormous catch when they had been been24200:17:06.920 --> 00:17:10.519completely unsuccessful. Yeah, prior tothat, right. Yeah, absolutely.24300:17:10.559 --> 00:17:14.839So. Yeah. Well, youknow, you can look to and I24400:17:14.960 --> 00:17:18.670think we need to look at theother other side of the coin, to24500:17:18.950 --> 00:17:22.630that there were those in God's wordwho were obedient to the Lord. You24600:17:22.710 --> 00:17:25.190know, you have Jeremiah, theProphet, for example. Yeah, it24700:17:25.349 --> 00:17:29.750was obedient to the Lord till thebitter end. And you know he didn't24800:17:29.750 --> 00:17:33.700have very many converts. He didn'tput to God ever say count your converts,24900:17:33.940 --> 00:17:37.619no good, not. Probably did. Basically probably, probably for good25000:17:37.660 --> 00:17:41.420reason. You look look at aman like Noah, for example, who25100:17:41.980 --> 00:17:45.170them, who we know as ashit builder and as a guy who obeyed25200:17:45.250 --> 00:17:48.170God and building a boat in themiddle of the desert when there had been25300:17:48.210 --> 00:17:52.210no rain and no reason for aboat. And there you goes building that25400:17:52.329 --> 00:17:56.730thing for some folks say a hundredto a hundred twenty years that he built25500:17:56.809 --> 00:18:00.720this thing and he didn't you know, he had the whole known world that25600:18:00.880 --> 00:18:04.440he was preaching to and they onlyconverts he got was really his family and25700:18:04.440 --> 00:18:10.799they were pretty reluctant to to beconverts to his calls as well. So25800:18:11.240 --> 00:18:15.150we have to weigh out scripturally.Obedience does not always translate into, you25900:18:15.230 --> 00:18:19.029know, a hundred, fifty threefish right. Obedience is where the victory26000:18:19.069 --> 00:18:23.109is. Is One we have toobey God, whether or not we see26100:18:23.230 --> 00:18:26.309results. So you know, keepthat in your mind, guys, as26200:18:26.390 --> 00:18:30.140we're going through this. We're notwe're in no way invalidating, you know,26300:18:30.940 --> 00:18:34.380other ministries or men women to Godin the past or whatever who didn't26400:18:34.420 --> 00:18:40.579have certain fruit. But we dosee in the Bible this counting of numbers26500:18:40.619 --> 00:18:44.569and this keeping tracks, keeping trackof fruit and that sort of thing,26600:18:44.970 --> 00:18:47.930and we're going to talk right nowthat. Why would you do that?26700:18:48.250 --> 00:18:49.650What are some of the biblical reasonsto do this and what are some of26800:18:49.690 --> 00:18:52.930the results of the yeah, andI don't want a gloss over, though.26900:18:53.089 --> 00:18:57.400I think a really important point youjust made that I want to repeat27000:18:57.440 --> 00:19:04.119because I think it is important.Numbers can be damaging to a ministry if27100:19:04.160 --> 00:19:10.990they discourage you if you're being faithful, and this does happen in many menistries27200:19:11.150 --> 00:19:15.109in all areas, not just prolife, where you are being faithful and27300:19:15.230 --> 00:19:21.869people still die and people still don'tturn to the Lord or whatever, your27400:19:21.950 --> 00:19:27.460focus of your ministry is not,apparently, ever obtained. Yeah, so27500:19:27.779 --> 00:19:33.619in that case, to look atnumbers can harm the ministry. Yeah,27600:19:33.779 --> 00:19:37.299so it is a danger. Ithink there is an honest danger. Yeah,27700:19:37.299 --> 00:19:41.450there is with with numbers. Yeah, and ultimately, like the point27800:19:41.490 --> 00:19:44.849I made, is it bows downto obedience to God. Like you don't27900:19:44.970 --> 00:19:48.569need to see numbers if you havedirect command from the Lord like, for28000:19:48.690 --> 00:19:52.279example, given a voice to theunborn. Yeah, if we never saw28100:19:52.480 --> 00:19:57.039and I would hope, by God'sgrace, that I would still be faithful28200:19:57.079 --> 00:20:00.160to the Lord's call out there onthat sidewalk, I believe that I would.28300:20:00.319 --> 00:20:04.559Yeah, even if we never sawbaby saved, and we've had days28400:20:04.839 --> 00:20:07.789we have been baby safe and there'snot got. It's harder, it is28500:20:07.869 --> 00:20:12.230harder, it is harder. Yeah, but yet still we are going to28600:20:12.309 --> 00:20:15.589be obedient to the Lord and we'restill called to be obedient, whether we28700:20:15.710 --> 00:20:19.269see the results or not. Yeah, however, our would say, and28800:20:19.390 --> 00:20:25.140this is not meant to discourage anyoneat all, but just as a practical28900:20:25.539 --> 00:20:30.859and I think even biblical call inthe Bible commands US continually to examine ourselves.29000:20:30.900 --> 00:20:37.009Yeah, and I we're involved ina ministry and we're never seeing positive29100:20:37.049 --> 00:20:41.289fruit from that ministry. It doesnot invalidate that ministry, but it should29200:20:41.369 --> 00:20:44.130cause us to make an assessment andit should cause us, you know,29300:20:44.170 --> 00:20:47.970if we're involved, if you're involvedon the sidewalks at an abortion clinic and29400:20:48.089 --> 00:20:51.920you're seeing massive amounts to people goinginto that abortion clinic and you're never seeing29500:20:52.039 --> 00:20:55.559any result, you're never seeing anyonetell you that they chose life or come29600:20:55.559 --> 00:20:57.799out and talk with you and havea conversation, then I think you do29700:20:59.039 --> 00:21:03.119need to validate, or not validate, but at least Sam examine what you're29800:21:03.160 --> 00:21:07.109doing. Is what I'm doing biblical? Right? Is What I'm doing?29900:21:07.470 --> 00:21:12.829Is that are the things that I'msaying biblical? And maybe evaluate that with30000:21:14.029 --> 00:21:15.630some other brothers and sisters and you'llgo to your pastor and say, Hey,30100:21:15.630 --> 00:21:18.299here, I want you to comeout with me one day and just30200:21:18.460 --> 00:21:22.980see if what I'm doing, ifit's honoring the Lord, if I'm ineffective30300:21:23.019 --> 00:21:29.180in some for some reason. NowI would say this or my experience that30400:21:29.900 --> 00:21:33.089people, you know it's you knowgot people on social media that I'm connected30500:21:33.089 --> 00:21:36.730with. It do ministry all overthe country and you know, maybe there30600:21:36.730 --> 00:21:38.329are some of the more effective thanthan others. I don't know. I'm30700:21:38.329 --> 00:21:41.329not writing numbers down engaging all ofthat, but from the most part what30800:21:41.410 --> 00:21:45.089I'm seeing is people are seeing babysaved. They're out there and God is30900:21:45.130 --> 00:21:48.599honoring what they're doing with babies beingsaved and there can you know, people31000:21:48.599 --> 00:21:52.640might look here in Charlotte and say, Oh, you guys, you know31100:21:52.720 --> 00:21:56.079you're seeing baby saved every day,and we are mostly, seem asually every31200:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.720day. Yeah, and and wepraise God for that. Again, we31300:21:57.880 --> 00:22:02.869know it's God's doing, giving hima glory to him exactly doing that work.31400:22:02.990 --> 00:22:06.829Yeah, but also, you know, they're like the HEBROWN abortion clinic.31500:22:06.869 --> 00:22:08.349That's that's, you know, twentyminutes down the street from where we're31600:22:08.390 --> 00:22:12.190at. Yeah, there's not alot of interactions and stuff that takes place31700:22:12.309 --> 00:22:15.660there. There's some difficulties, aresome hurdles that are there that are hard31800:22:15.700 --> 00:22:18.099to navigate through and a lot ofpeople come over and talk. We do31900:22:18.220 --> 00:22:22.579see baby saved there, yeah,from time to time. But you know,32000:22:22.019 --> 00:22:25.779there's a sort of a ratio thingto. You know, here on32100:22:25.859 --> 00:22:30.809latrobe drive they're doing you thirty abortionsevery day on average at least, you32200:22:30.930 --> 00:22:33.450know, and there's some days wherethey do fifty. Right you know,32300:22:33.529 --> 00:22:37.730the Hebron abortion clinic their numbers mightbe ten at the most. So that's32400:22:37.009 --> 00:22:41.369a difference to that's that's sort ofa practical thing I did want to mention,32500:22:41.250 --> 00:22:47.759but also in again the practical pointof examining things, because there are32600:22:47.960 --> 00:22:51.799ways that I've seen people do ministryin front of an abortion clinic that they32700:22:51.880 --> 00:22:56.359might be, I guess, obedientto God. They're got out there saying32800:22:56.359 --> 00:22:57.950abortion is murder, and I'm notsaying you shouldn't. You should say abortion32900:22:59.069 --> 00:23:00.430is murder, I get it.But there are those who are going out33000:23:00.430 --> 00:23:04.869there with just, I don't know, maybe, and maybe I'm just viewing33100:23:04.910 --> 00:23:10.670it from the outside looking in,with an angry spirit and angry at abortion,33200:23:10.789 --> 00:23:14.140and we should be. It's terrible. But when you come across and33300:23:14.180 --> 00:23:17.140you're on the sidewalk with an angryspirit, don't be surprised if people don't33400:23:17.180 --> 00:23:18.819come over and talk to you.Exact and I guarantee this, though,33500:23:18.940 --> 00:23:22.099even you know if you're if you'reproclaiming the truth of God's word. There33600:23:22.140 --> 00:23:26.779are probably babies that are being savedand they're just not stopping and telling you33700:23:26.900 --> 00:23:29.009may never know. Yeah, youmay never know. Yeah, and maybe33800:23:29.049 --> 00:23:30.170you're content with that. Yeah,you know, I don't know right every33900:23:30.210 --> 00:23:34.410yeah, all I'm doing is justthrowing some practical things out there and I34000:23:34.529 --> 00:23:40.130think by the end of this podcast, hopefully you guys who are doing ministry34100:23:40.569 --> 00:23:44.039in on the sidewalks and doing ministryand a pregnancy center, if you're not34200:23:44.039 --> 00:23:47.799keeping tracking numbers, hopefully by theend of this podcast you'll see a good34300:23:47.839 --> 00:23:51.359reason to do that. Yeah,and and you'll begin to do that and34400:23:51.440 --> 00:23:53.920give glory to God for those numbers. Yeah. So as I was going34500:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.470through, as I would, I'vebeen reading through the book of Numbers,34600:23:56.509 --> 00:24:03.109which is divine appointment, I think, because it it's right during the discussion34700:24:03.109 --> 00:24:07.230of this topic. But I wasthinking there were four purposes that I thought34800:24:07.349 --> 00:24:14.299became apparent to me for why numbersdo matter both to God and to us.34900:24:14.539 --> 00:24:18.500And so I'm going to tell youthose four purposes that I came up35000:24:18.619 --> 00:24:21.539you may have others. Yeah,I'll refute all of those, probably,35100:24:21.940 --> 00:24:26.289probably, and and then I'll givescripture to support it, because you may35200:24:26.329 --> 00:24:29.250be able to refute me, butscripture if you yeah, you're right.35300:24:29.609 --> 00:24:33.529Okay, so the purpose number one, and I think we would all agree35400:24:33.569 --> 00:24:37.680with this one, honestly even.Yeah, numbers encourage God's people. Yeah,35500:24:37.759 --> 00:24:42.079if they're big, if they're small, maybe not. Somewhere that FIVEZERO35600:24:42.559 --> 00:24:48.240number baby saved. That was anenormous encouragement to me. I got the35700:24:48.359 --> 00:24:52.680text the day that the five thoubaby was saved and it's you know it.35800:24:52.349 --> 00:24:57.309Every baby matters, every single lifeis precious beyond belief. But the35900:24:57.470 --> 00:25:03.630sheer number that five thousand babies aresaved in a place where most people will36000:25:03.670 --> 00:25:08.420think no decisions for life are evergoing to be made. Yeah, that's36100:25:08.460 --> 00:25:14.059an amazing encouragement. Yeah, tothose of us who labor in the pro36200:25:14.220 --> 00:25:18.859life area. Yeah, so here'shere's a verse that I think supports that36300:25:18.900 --> 00:25:22.970that numbers can encourage God's people.Okay, it's first kings. One thousand,36400:25:23.009 --> 00:25:26.809nine hundred and eighteen is one ofmy favorite books in the Bible and36500:25:26.890 --> 00:25:30.250one of my favorite chapters, bythe way. I love this chapter.36600:25:32.289 --> 00:25:37.759So this versus. Yet I havereserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose36700:25:37.759 --> 00:25:44.039knees have not bowed to bail andevery mouth that has not kissed him.36800:25:44.039 --> 00:25:45.160Yeah, so do you want togive the background of that? You know36900:25:45.240 --> 00:25:49.029that that was this is the passagewith Elijah right and the side all of37000:25:49.109 --> 00:25:55.390yeah, and and the worshippers ofbail and Elijah has what some folks call37100:25:55.470 --> 00:25:59.670the Elijah mentality based on this passage. I'm the only one. My God,37200:25:59.710 --> 00:26:03.190where's where's all your people? Everyoneis departed from from you and I'm37300:26:03.190 --> 00:26:06.940the only person that's righteous. Yeah, and you know, I've seen that37400:26:07.539 --> 00:26:11.940is from people own social media onFacebook, who are doing ministry at Abortion37500:26:12.059 --> 00:26:15.140class and I where's everyone? Where'sthe church at? And I get you37600:26:15.220 --> 00:26:18.410know, four years you know,I was out in front of Latrobe here37700:26:18.490 --> 00:26:22.210and others, but just a handfulof people, and there's like one,37800:26:22.210 --> 00:26:26.849thousanree hundred churches in the Greater Charlottearea and we wondered where's all these churches?37900:26:26.890 --> 00:26:30.250There millions of Christians around in thisarea, right, hundreds of thousands38000:26:30.250 --> 00:26:33.799of Christians. I don't know aboutmillions, but like, where are they38100:26:33.839 --> 00:26:37.000at? And it can be discouragingand I get that. And we can38200:26:37.039 --> 00:26:38.880have the Elijah mentality. You know, I'm the only one. I'm no38300:26:38.920 --> 00:26:44.319one person in the you know,Charlotte area that cares about the unborn and38400:26:44.599 --> 00:26:48.509you know God. This is sortof a rebuke actually to Elijah. This38500:26:48.589 --> 00:26:52.109is not just an encouragement, thisis a rebuke. Now, hopefully,38600:26:53.309 --> 00:26:59.349and I think in one since Elijahdid take this as an encouragement. But38700:26:59.470 --> 00:27:02.740and so hopefully it was an encouragementto him. But again it was also38800:27:02.779 --> 00:27:07.140a rebuke. There you're not theonly person that standing for righteousness. You're38900:27:07.140 --> 00:27:08.940not the only person that's doing whatis right in the side of God.39000:27:10.700 --> 00:27:14.980He has other people right that hasthat have dedicated themselves to him and not39100:27:15.140 --> 00:27:17.730bow their knee to to the eye. That's right. And he named it.39200:27:17.970 --> 00:27:19.730He named the number and it wasany able number. gave him a39300:27:19.730 --> 00:27:25.609number. Seven have seven thousand right, and so I think Elisha was encouraged.39400:27:25.650 --> 00:27:30.799He knew he was he was notalone. And and those seven thousand,39500:27:32.160 --> 00:27:40.319I think of those also as thefruit of of ministry, because those39600:27:40.400 --> 00:27:45.950seven thousand probably had parents, otherpeople telling them about the one true God,39700:27:45.710 --> 00:27:49.509and they obviously are following the onetrue God, or God wouldn't have39800:27:49.549 --> 00:27:53.470mentioned them. So they are bothan encouragement as fellow warriors, but I39900:27:53.549 --> 00:27:57.069think we could also look to themas an encouragement of the fruit, yeah,40000:27:57.150 --> 00:28:02.299of of other faithful people, ofsome of those, you know,40100:28:03.099 --> 00:28:06.859could be fruit of Elijah's ministry asthe profit of Israel, very much like40200:28:06.980 --> 00:28:10.299they had heard Elijah and preach.Maybe. Yeah, they'd have heard heard40300:28:10.339 --> 00:28:14.089of some of Elijah's prophecy. Yeah, yeah, and they were the fruit40400:28:14.130 --> 00:28:17.690of his ministry. Quite possible.Right. One of the reasons I love40500:28:17.809 --> 00:28:22.009this passage so much and that chapterso much as Elishah had just had this40600:28:22.089 --> 00:28:26.200enormous victory when he says that hehad had a huge victory over the prophets40700:28:26.279 --> 00:28:33.960of Baal and and the immediate responseto that huge victory was discouragement. Yeah,40800:28:33.039 --> 00:28:37.680and I think and and and that'sdiscouragement, I believe, comes from40900:28:37.759 --> 00:28:41.829Satan, to to discourage him andall of us in history to no longer41000:28:41.910 --> 00:28:47.349continue in ministry. So, byGod, naming this large number it,41100:28:47.710 --> 00:28:53.390it reminded him that that be encouraged. You being you know, there are41200:28:53.470 --> 00:28:57.819others and there is fruit. Yeah, if your minish know locally, one41300:28:57.859 --> 00:29:03.700of the encouragements for US months monthsago, we first started this podcast I41400:29:03.779 --> 00:29:07.180did an interview with Justin reader,who started love life right and we've talked41500:29:07.220 --> 00:29:10.289about them often times on the podcast. In those guys, you know,41600:29:10.369 --> 00:29:12.769their first year and doing the prayerwalks in front of the abortion clinic.41700:29:14.210 --> 00:29:15.890When they did their final prayer walkof the year, I think was two.41800:29:15.930 --> 00:29:19.690It was two thousand and sixteen.I remember coming up on that stage41900:29:21.170 --> 00:29:26.359and looking across that crowd of fourthousand people and just being overwhelmed, you42000:29:26.440 --> 00:29:29.759know, haven't been out there infront of the Latroux for for so long42100:29:29.960 --> 00:29:33.599and wondering where is the church?It was like that was God's answer.42200:29:33.680 --> 00:29:37.630Here they all. We have thousandsof people and could there be more?42300:29:38.190 --> 00:29:44.269Sure, you know, there couldbe more, but I could be encouraged42400:29:44.309 --> 00:29:45.549by that number. I can bediscouraged. I couldn't you know. It's42500:29:45.630 --> 00:29:51.029like, you know, like likethe Christian the grave is never satisfied.42600:29:51.109 --> 00:29:53.500You know, like some Christians,this will never be satisfied with, you42700:29:53.660 --> 00:29:56.259know, with what God's doing.And I, you know, I'm just42800:29:56.339 --> 00:30:00.019thankful that God's doing that. Soand that was a great encouragement to me.42900:30:00.140 --> 00:30:03.220It was a great encouragement to you. Yeah, and and so you43000:30:03.380 --> 00:30:07.250numbers can be a great encourage rights, and I think God designs it that43100:30:07.329 --> 00:30:11.130way. Yeah, I'd there havebeen many, many days this happened,43200:30:11.250 --> 00:30:15.529just it actually happened today, wherewe knew that there had been baby saved,43300:30:15.609 --> 00:30:18.450but they were not confirmed. Weknew from other clues. Yeah,43400:30:18.529 --> 00:30:22.079but then right as we're getting readyto leave, so I'd been out there43500:30:22.119 --> 00:30:26.480over four hours, it was cold. Yeah, kind of a bitter Coldie,43600:30:26.599 --> 00:30:32.160they know, and considering like theweather was not was not calling for43700:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.599it to be that. God,no, it wasn't. But I was43800:30:33.839 --> 00:30:38.309shivering, all of us were,and at like one o'clock a mom pulled43900:30:38.349 --> 00:30:44.990out of the the driveway and theabortionist had already arrived and she told us44000:30:45.390 --> 00:30:52.259she chose life and that that thatwas one verified baby that was saved and44100:30:52.420 --> 00:30:56.180and we all just started dancing andbeing for joy and the cold didn't matter.44200:30:56.380 --> 00:31:00.819So, you know, just justbeing able to count one that we44300:31:00.900 --> 00:31:07.930knew for certain was was an encouragement. Yeah, okay, so purpose number44400:31:07.970 --> 00:31:11.210two. Purpose number two, thisis the one you'll probably have the greatest44500:31:11.210 --> 00:31:15.450argument about. I'll have a problemwith this one. Yeah, okay,44600:31:15.529 --> 00:31:18.279okay, probably cut for my wording, but it was the best I could44700:31:18.279 --> 00:31:26.119do. Okay, okay. NumbersValidate Ministry for raising support. Okay,44800:31:26.359 --> 00:31:30.400okay. And here's here's the versethat I threw in with that. It's44900:31:30.480 --> 00:31:34.589front. Well, some verses actsto verses, forty one to forty seven.45000:31:36.710 --> 00:31:40.470So those who received his word werebaptized and they were added that day45100:31:40.509 --> 00:31:45.390about three thousand souls, and theydevoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the45200:31:45.509 --> 00:31:49.940fellowship, to the breaking of breadand the prayers, and awe came upon45300:31:51.180 --> 00:31:55.819every soul and many wonders and signswere being done through the apostles, and45400:31:56.059 --> 00:32:00.019all who believed were together and hadall things in common, and they were45500:32:00.059 --> 00:32:05.849selling their possessions and belongings and distributingthe proceeds to all, as any had45600:32:05.970 --> 00:32:09.369need. And Day by day,attending the temple together and breaking bread in45700:32:09.410 --> 00:32:15.009their homes, they received their foodwith glad and generous hearts, praising God45800:32:15.289 --> 00:32:19.559and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number45900:32:19.640 --> 00:32:24.720day by day those who were beingsaved. So this is God. They46000:32:25.000 --> 00:32:30.470counted the number of soul saved,they must have, because they knew they46100:32:30.470 --> 00:32:32.829were about three Tho. Yeah,the Lord added to their number. He46200:32:32.950 --> 00:32:37.990was clearly pleased by that. Butit's spurred them on. All these people46300:32:37.150 --> 00:32:43.950being saved. I think we couldmake the argument that they were selling their46400:32:43.990 --> 00:32:47.819possessions and distributing the proceeds to all, to everyone who had need their coming46500:32:47.900 --> 00:32:54.140together and eating together and breaking breadtogether as part of well, there's all46600:32:54.259 --> 00:33:00.329these people that have that are thefruit of our work and now we need46700:33:00.410 --> 00:33:07.170to minister to them. So ithelps to spur more efforts at ministry seeing46800:33:07.289 --> 00:33:10.490all this fruit. That's my takeon it. Yeah, well, it's46900:33:10.609 --> 00:33:14.680not a bad take. You know, I would have a problem with the47000:33:14.799 --> 00:33:17.240idea of numbers validating manistry for thesame reason I mentioned earlier. You know,47100:33:17.319 --> 00:33:22.640it's God that validates ministry. Andhow does God validate ministry? Well,47200:33:22.880 --> 00:33:25.440ministry needs to be based on hisword. That's right. And so47300:33:25.720 --> 00:33:29.950if ministry, if a ministry,is not based on his word, that47400:33:30.069 --> 00:33:35.910ministry is invalidated immediately. Right.So there's a ministry per life or whatever,47500:33:36.190 --> 00:33:39.029ministry, Missionary Ministry, whatever,that's not validated by God's word.47600:33:39.069 --> 00:33:44.700Like they're doing things that are completelyunbiblical in a framework this completely unbiblical,47700:33:45.339 --> 00:33:49.460then they've invalidated themselves. I don'tcare what their fruit is. That's yeah.47800:33:49.500 --> 00:33:52.220I want to know is what you'redoing in line with the word of47900:33:52.259 --> 00:33:55.369God. Can you show me scripturethat backs up what you're doing and why48000:33:55.410 --> 00:33:59.490you're doing what you're doing? Ifyou can't, then in my mind you've48100:33:59.529 --> 00:34:05.049invalidated yourself and God's not validated.Yeah, so in that sense I'll say48200:34:05.170 --> 00:34:10.159it's not the numbers that validate,it's God that validates. But I will48300:34:10.159 --> 00:34:13.719say, because you know, youput in there and raising support and you're48400:34:13.719 --> 00:34:17.119unstum about financial support. You knowwe're talking about people actually, you know,48500:34:17.880 --> 00:34:22.039talking about the ministry verbally, thatsupport, that's encouraging other people to48600:34:22.039 --> 00:34:28.110be involved and that sort of thingmay be particularly about financial support. I48700:34:28.190 --> 00:34:30.630mean, you know, if I'mlooking this is something I mentioned before we48800:34:30.710 --> 00:34:35.070even started the podcast here, isthat you know, if I'm looking at48900:34:35.389 --> 00:34:39.019the say too missionary groups, let'ssay they're a missionary organizations and there's two49000:34:39.019 --> 00:34:44.659of them and they're both missionary organizationsin India, and both of those missionary49100:34:44.699 --> 00:34:46.460organizations, I look at their statementof faith, I look at their framework49200:34:46.500 --> 00:34:51.539of ministry and it looks thoroughly Biblicalin both ends, right, but one's49300:34:51.579 --> 00:34:57.130more effective and establishing churches and andseeing people converted and seeing people discipled.49400:34:57.650 --> 00:35:00.369Yeah, and I've got money andI've got a burden for India. Yeah,49500:35:01.050 --> 00:35:05.889I'M gonna probably give money to theto the one that's more effect right.49600:35:06.130 --> 00:35:10.079Right, there's the both are doingbiblical work, both are validated biblically,49700:35:10.599 --> 00:35:15.679but one's more effective. Once youknow producing, you know and I49800:35:15.800 --> 00:35:19.440can verify those numbers are true orwhatever. Yeah, then I'm going to49900:35:19.679 --> 00:35:22.869give money to the more effective group. Yeah, almost be unwise to unless50000:35:23.269 --> 00:35:25.989you know explicitly the Holy Spirit putit in a hard to give to the50100:35:27.070 --> 00:35:29.989other, the other ministry. Right, I'm going to give to the more50200:35:29.989 --> 00:35:32.909effective ministry. Yeah. Well,something even in terms of giving to ministries,50300:35:32.949 --> 00:35:37.059where numbers can help is I willlook through. Well, does this50400:35:37.340 --> 00:35:45.019ministry, what percentage of this ministrygoes to the actual whatever the ministry is?50500:35:45.380 --> 00:35:49.659Yeah, WHAT GOES TO ADMINISTRATION?WHAT GOES TO SUPPLIES? What goes50600:35:49.860 --> 00:35:53.889to lavish vacations for your yeah,exactly, your CEO, you know,50700:35:54.090 --> 00:35:58.809and those numbers help you to makewise decisions on what is the best use50800:35:58.929 --> 00:36:02.730of limited resources. And I thinkthat's true of our volunteers or any any50900:36:04.360 --> 00:36:08.840person thinking who am I going tovolunteer with? Yeah, I think sometimes51000:36:09.039 --> 00:36:15.719knowing that the effectiveness helps people todetermine I will go in volunteer with them.51100:36:15.920 --> 00:36:20.349I know that was what happened withme. I I and I know51200:36:20.429 --> 00:36:22.869I've said this before on the PODCAST, I didn't know that that a single51300:36:23.030 --> 00:36:28.989person ever came to an abortion centerundecided right, actually chose life. And51400:36:29.110 --> 00:36:32.579so I was shocked when I startedreading the numbers and it was the numbers51500:36:32.900 --> 00:36:37.780of the baby saved every day thatwas being reported on facebook by Lisa Mets51600:36:37.860 --> 00:36:45.659Gir and, and that to me, may I became very interested because it51700:36:45.260 --> 00:36:51.809was clearly a ministry that was producingfruit in the only way I knew how51800:36:51.929 --> 00:36:57.570to count. The fruit of apro life ministry were babies being saved.51900:36:57.650 --> 00:37:01.119Yeah, yeah, so, sothat's that's what we mean, or what52000:37:01.280 --> 00:37:07.360I meant saying numbers validate ministry forRacing Support. I think it helps us52100:37:07.519 --> 00:37:12.079to it's not the only validation.It's not even really a validation of the52200:37:12.119 --> 00:37:14.880primary valid right. Sure, right, I'm thinking one sense. Yeah,52300:37:14.880 --> 00:37:16.269you could say it is. Itis a validation. Yeah, sure,52400:37:16.389 --> 00:37:21.269but it helps give wisdom, yeah, to those who are seeking what what52500:37:21.469 --> 00:37:24.030ministry to support financially or with theirtime. And, yeah, volunteer.52600:37:24.110 --> 00:37:28.150And you know, of course,this is act chapter two. This is52700:37:28.190 --> 00:37:30.500right after Peter. You know,the Holy Spirit fell the day of Pentecost52800:37:30.539 --> 00:37:34.739and Peter gets up and preach isone of the most powerful sermons ever preached.52900:37:35.300 --> 00:37:37.380It wasn't a secret, friendly service, now, it wasn't. He53000:37:37.619 --> 00:37:43.059wasn't tickling the People's ears. Hebasically laid the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on53100:37:43.139 --> 00:37:45.170the people and said this Christ him, you crucified. God has made both53200:37:45.289 --> 00:37:49.690Lord and Christ. And so itsays. They were cut to the heart.53300:37:49.690 --> 00:37:52.530Yeah, and they were convicted oftheir sin. They whatss we do53400:37:52.889 --> 00:37:54.849to be saved? He doesn't,you know, he didn't say. Well,53500:37:55.010 --> 00:37:58.489just repeat after me. And youknow, he really gets down to53600:37:58.599 --> 00:38:00.320it. Be Baptized. This Jesusthat you guys crucified. You need to53700:38:00.360 --> 00:38:05.159be baptizing his name right now.Yeah, and look at how many we're53800:38:05.199 --> 00:38:07.679saying. Yes, three feels atthree thousand. So so it's like,53900:38:07.840 --> 00:38:12.079brother Peter, you had a megachurch at that time. And then look54000:38:12.159 --> 00:38:15.510at Peter. If it at leastme. I then look at that and54100:38:15.590 --> 00:38:20.150I look at Peter and I lookat what did he do or what did54200:38:20.230 --> 00:38:24.309he have out? What did theHoly Spirit encourage out of him? Because54300:38:24.309 --> 00:38:29.739I want that, I'm going toif my desire is to bring people to54400:38:29.780 --> 00:38:31.820the Lord, I'm going to lookat the person that brings a lot of54500:38:31.940 --> 00:38:36.900people to the Lord. That mayor may not be necessarily always true.54600:38:36.940 --> 00:38:39.619There may be like Jeremiah, theprophet, Jeremiah who but he was called54700:38:39.659 --> 00:38:44.809the weeping Prophet. He did nothave a happy life. He was sad,54800:38:45.369 --> 00:38:47.530it was he was very discouraged,but he was he was but he54900:38:47.650 --> 00:38:51.530happy in the Lord and faithful inthe Lord. He was faithful. You55000:38:51.610 --> 00:38:53.210know, I'd say. You know, if you look at the population of55100:38:53.289 --> 00:38:57.719Jerusalem at this time, and metalked about he said earlier you Peter had55200:38:57.719 --> 00:39:00.840a mega church. You know.Yeah, I've heard people disparage mega churches55300:39:00.840 --> 00:39:04.920and I understand there's a lot ofgoofiness and megachurches may not be the most55400:39:04.920 --> 00:39:08.480biblical model, but I've sort of, I guess, tongue in cheek,55500:39:08.559 --> 00:39:10.869mentions. You know, book ofacts had to do. There was a55600:39:10.909 --> 00:39:14.789mega church because you look at thepopulation of DRUSOM. You know, it55700:39:14.829 --> 00:39:17.389couldn't have been more. I readsome estimates that were there were Twentyzero people.55800:39:17.630 --> 00:39:21.230I think that's way low. Idon't think that's the case. And55900:39:21.389 --> 00:39:24.900some folks say they're up to twohundredzero people in Jerusalem around that time,56000:39:25.219 --> 00:39:29.699around the time of the apostles orwhatever. Either way, with a two56100:39:29.699 --> 00:39:31.539hundred thousand or you know, ifit's Twentyzero people, he had more than56200:39:31.579 --> 00:39:35.699ten percent of the population turn intothe Lord. Yeah, you know,56300:39:36.500 --> 00:39:39.730I would say the more accurate numbersprobably around I don't know, a hundred56400:39:39.809 --> 00:39:44.050thousand or so people lived in drewsome of course they were others who visited56500:39:44.090 --> 00:39:47.610druism whatever. Either way, incomparison, yeah, I mean he probably56600:39:47.769 --> 00:39:52.690that. You know, the comparisonmaybe ratio today. Threezero people in that56700:39:52.690 --> 00:39:57.360day would be more like twentyzero today. As far as having people together worshiping56800:39:57.440 --> 00:40:01.639the Lord. Yeah, either way, massive fruit was born from this message56900:40:01.679 --> 00:40:05.920that Peter Preach and of course itwas because he was empowered by the holy57000:40:05.960 --> 00:40:08.230spirits. If you want anything,you you want to know anything, we57100:40:08.389 --> 00:40:12.630would peter do. You know.How did he do this? When him57200:40:12.989 --> 00:40:15.230right? It's like what we saidin the beginning. Yeah, it was57300:40:15.269 --> 00:40:16.869a Holy Spirit in here, thespirit of God. So you want to57400:40:16.949 --> 00:40:20.670know how to be effective, likePeter? Yeah, Surendo yourself to the57500:40:20.710 --> 00:40:22.900Holy Spirit, right, get toknow God more through his word and find57600:40:22.940 --> 00:40:27.300out what he what he requires theview, and just bow your hard to57700:40:27.300 --> 00:40:30.340him. And Lord, make melike Jesus. That's what Peter. That's57800:40:30.380 --> 00:40:31.980right, mentality here, right,like Jesus. Yet, Peter, and57900:40:32.059 --> 00:40:36.849the evidence of that in this caseclearly was there was. Yeah, normous58000:40:37.250 --> 00:40:40.369fruit have and it was counted.Yeah, so it was first. Didn't58100:40:40.369 --> 00:40:45.050matter in that case. They yeah, okay. Purpose number three. I58200:40:45.170 --> 00:40:50.760think this is very true and veryimportant. Numbers shock us out of complacence.58300:40:50.760 --> 00:40:55.679Yeah, and here I'm specifically talkingabout the number of abortions. Yeah,58400:40:57.039 --> 00:40:59.880and this is sort of maybe inone sense, we've talked about the58500:40:59.920 --> 00:41:02.639positive side, the numbers that weresaved, and those numbers can encourage people58600:41:02.719 --> 00:41:07.590and all that. But then again, the number you mentioned here, the58700:41:07.630 --> 00:41:09.909number of lives that were lost.Yeah, what is it? Sixty five58800:41:09.949 --> 00:41:14.349million? Yes, what's they astimates? The estimate? Yeah, sixty five58900:41:14.510 --> 00:41:17.469million. That's just numbers that we'vebeen able to track. I mean and59000:41:17.579 --> 00:41:22.179a lot of states don't report.So they don't report. Probably some Mundy,59100:41:22.300 --> 00:41:27.460I'm sure, under report. Soand of course you got to look59200:41:27.460 --> 00:41:30.940at the potential of abortions that havehappened with you know, maybe this is59300:41:30.980 --> 00:41:34.250a subjective definitely a subject for anothertime, but birth control in the morning59400:41:34.289 --> 00:41:37.329after peel and like that. Yeah, it's probably much higher than that.59500:41:37.570 --> 00:41:44.170Probably the number that we have,sixty five million plus Ye, should be59600:41:44.250 --> 00:41:49.519a number that that shakes us outof our complacence. It should. And59700:41:49.599 --> 00:41:53.880I've got again another one of myfavorite passages in scriptures as support for this.59800:41:54.159 --> 00:41:59.119This is from the book of Jonah. Jonah for to eleven. But59900:41:59.280 --> 00:42:02.190God said to Jonah, do youdo well to be angry for the plant,60000:42:02.429 --> 00:42:06.829and he said yes, I dowell to be angry, angry enough60100:42:06.829 --> 00:42:09.869to die. And the Lord said, you pity the plant, for which60200:42:09.909 --> 00:42:14.829you did not Labor, nor didyou make it grow, which came into60300:42:14.869 --> 00:42:17.659being in a night and perished ina night. And should not I pity60400:42:17.739 --> 00:42:22.260Nineveh, that great city in whichthere are more than a hundred twenty thousand60500:42:22.500 --> 00:42:29.099persons who do not know their righthand from their left, and also much60600:42:29.300 --> 00:42:32.090cattle. Yeah, so the Lordis laying a number on Jonah here and60700:42:32.369 --> 00:42:37.409saying this number, I mean I'mgrieve. You grieved over this plant.60800:42:37.690 --> 00:42:40.170I'm grieved over these lost people whodon't know they're right hand from their left60900:42:40.250 --> 00:42:44.320hand, I don't know what,from down who God had sent Jonah.61000:42:44.360 --> 00:42:47.400Yeah, absolutely, said share thetruth of the one true God with and61100:42:47.639 --> 00:42:52.559and initially he refused. Yeah,and now he's complaining about this one plant61200:42:52.599 --> 00:42:55.199that was had grown up as shadeand God, God, took that away61300:42:55.679 --> 00:43:00.030to make a very significant point aboutthere's a lot of people, yeah,61400:43:00.070 --> 00:43:05.030that need that, need me.Yeah, and and your concern is over61500:43:05.150 --> 00:43:08.789your shade, yeah, instead ofthose hundred Twentyzero people that will perish forever61600:43:08.989 --> 00:43:12.829for all. And he gives you, gives a number, a large number,61700:43:13.019 --> 00:43:16.019of course, and that day,you know, hundred and Twentyzero people61800:43:16.420 --> 00:43:21.179in one city. Yeah, andGod's grieved over that. And, yeah,61900:43:21.219 --> 00:43:24.500numbers matter to him. Yes,sense. Yeah, and and Jonah62000:43:24.980 --> 00:43:30.409presumably had become complacent to the fateof what we know he did. He62100:43:30.969 --> 00:43:34.769refused it first, to to sharethe truth of God with those people,62200:43:34.809 --> 00:43:38.489as he he'd been commanded. SoGod kind of shocks Jonah out of his62300:43:38.610 --> 00:43:43.079self pity and complacency. We youknow, one of the things that in62400:43:43.320 --> 00:43:45.920history that we use, and we'retalking about something like the Holocaust, right,62500:43:46.280 --> 00:43:50.880the sheer numbers of people. Yeah, it's not that every life,62600:43:50.880 --> 00:43:54.000every individual life, doesn't matter.They do. Every life does matter,62700:43:54.079 --> 00:43:57.829but when you talk about the sheernumbers of people that were dealed in the62800:43:57.869 --> 00:44:00.510Holocaust or, you know, youlook at a communism, how many people62900:44:00.550 --> 00:44:05.869in the twenty central been killed underit's like a hundred million people have been63000:44:05.909 --> 00:44:12.940murdered under communism in just recent history. Yeah, those numbers are staggering and63100:44:13.059 --> 00:44:15.940should be staggering and they should shakeus out of any kind of complacency,63200:44:16.539 --> 00:44:21.699as it pertains what we're trying toallow in this country. Yeah, with63300:44:22.420 --> 00:44:25.570socialism, which is just the gatewayto communism. This is not a political63400:44:25.610 --> 00:44:30.489podcast, but just that. Guesswhere you stand? Yeah, because we're63500:44:30.489 --> 00:44:34.730a stand on this stand on communism. Back it's killed one hundred twenty million63600:44:34.889 --> 00:44:37.809people and we want to touch thatthing. We don't want to be anywhere63700:44:37.849 --> 00:44:43.559near what communism is. Yeah,yeah, but numbers shock us and they63800:44:43.559 --> 00:44:49.360should shock. Those large numbers.Here's purpose number four. Okay, numbers63900:44:49.559 --> 00:44:53.789mobilized warriors for the battle. Okay, so second chronicles, th seven eight64000:44:53.949 --> 00:44:59.469is the scripture that I pulled outfor that one. Be Strong and courageous,64100:44:59.909 --> 00:45:02.150do not be afraid or dismayed.Be for the King of Assyria and64200:45:02.190 --> 00:45:07.619all the horde that is with him, in other words, a lot of64300:45:07.699 --> 00:45:13.619people. Be for there are morewith us than with him. With him64400:45:14.139 --> 00:45:16.699is an arm of flesh, butwith us is the Lord, our God,64500:45:16.940 --> 00:45:21.929to help us and to fight ourbattles. And the people took confidence64600:45:21.969 --> 00:45:27.969from the words of Hezekiah, Kingof Judah. Yeah, so the culture64700:45:28.010 --> 00:45:34.610of death to US seems to havehordes of supporters. Yeah, right,64800:45:34.849 --> 00:45:37.760we if you look at, youknow, media, it seems the media64900:45:37.840 --> 00:45:45.480support for the large part is proabortion. Every single every single contender for65000:45:45.599 --> 00:45:51.349the presidency on the Democratic side is, as you know, for abortion.65100:45:51.429 --> 00:45:53.989Yeah, and then it seems,you know, just looking out across the65200:45:54.070 --> 00:46:00.190landscape of of our country, ifyou really get down to the nitty gridy65300:46:00.230 --> 00:46:05.539of and ask people about abortion,yeah, you're going to get, for65400:46:05.619 --> 00:46:08.300the majority of people, at leastsome acceptance. You have the idea that65500:46:08.380 --> 00:46:12.500it's okay to murder child right insidethe whom? Right and that can be65600:46:13.019 --> 00:46:17.219that can be discouraging. Right onthe flip side, though, when you65700:46:17.340 --> 00:46:21.449start to see, in like Imentioned earlier, when you start to see65800:46:21.570 --> 00:46:23.210thousands of Christians coming out and prayand when you start to see, you65900:46:23.329 --> 00:46:28.369know, the sidewalks and more andmore people getting a burden to come out66000:46:28.409 --> 00:46:32.159on the sidewalk and be involved inministry in that context, especially considering American66100:46:32.199 --> 00:46:36.199Christianity and how we've been taught that, you know, it's all about our66200:46:36.239 --> 00:46:38.360comfort and all about the way thatwe feel. To see people stirred up66300:46:38.400 --> 00:46:40.800in such a way and get outof, you know, back to point66400:46:40.840 --> 00:46:45.679number three, get out of theircomplacency. Yeah, is encouraging to me66500:46:45.280 --> 00:46:49.429and it's encouraging for other people.You know. I mean one of the66600:46:49.510 --> 00:46:52.750means that we get, I say, a good portion of our new volunteers66700:46:53.269 --> 00:46:58.269it's been because they've seen something onfacebook that somebody else has shared, they66800:46:58.309 --> 00:47:00.949have a friend that's come out assomebody came to the prayer walk or they66900:47:00.989 --> 00:47:02.099themselves came to the prayer walk withthey were, you know, a good67000:47:02.139 --> 00:47:06.179number of people and they were encourageokay, other people doing this, I67100:47:06.300 --> 00:47:10.139can do this right, you know, because the Lord encourages us with other67200:47:10.260 --> 00:47:14.619people. You know, right,so and so's doing a you think about67300:47:14.699 --> 00:47:17.250missionary work. How do most peopleget encouraged to do missionary work? It's67400:47:17.289 --> 00:47:20.570not that, you know, Jesuscomes to them in the dream and calls67500:47:20.610 --> 00:47:22.130him to do missionary work. No, it's that they know somebody, they67600:47:22.210 --> 00:47:25.530read about somebody that's at on themission field and that person is doing the67700:47:25.570 --> 00:47:29.329work of the ministry and they're seeingfruit and they're encouraged by that and so67800:47:29.409 --> 00:47:32.280they go on the mission field temporarilyand they feel called permanently mission for yeah,67900:47:32.280 --> 00:47:35.119well, it's like that on thesidewalk as well. Yeah, and68000:47:35.159 --> 00:47:38.719there's I can't remember it was Elijahor Elisha, I always get that mixed68100:47:38.760 --> 00:47:47.710up, but where he's standing discouragedand and the Lord, whoever he's with.68200:47:49.510 --> 00:47:52.949Maybe he's standing with a I can'tremember, but I'm sure you will68300:47:52.989 --> 00:47:55.789remember this, and the Lord revealson the horizon. Yeah, yeah,68400:47:55.829 --> 00:48:00.300that was all sh that was alisha. So obviously I'm messing up this68500:48:00.340 --> 00:48:02.739story. Didn't just briefly talk aboutthat? Yeah. So, so,68600:48:02.900 --> 00:48:07.099basically the armies and I forget theking's name, sorry. The armies of68700:48:07.139 --> 00:48:12.969King something, whoever came and surroundedthe city where Elijah, or Elisha,68800:48:13.210 --> 00:48:17.010sorry, and his servant were staying. Right Yah Hasi was the servant.68900:48:17.090 --> 00:48:21.730I think of that right right now, about that. Yeah, and so,69000:48:22.449 --> 00:48:23.610yeah, so they look and theysee this army. At least the69100:48:23.849 --> 00:48:28.039servant looks and sees US Army andhe's overwhelmed, all the right, terrified69200:48:28.079 --> 00:48:30.079and to get we calls no waywe can get that. We're gonna get69300:48:30.119 --> 00:48:35.320demolished. Then aliasha praise and saysLord, open his eyes, and then69400:48:35.480 --> 00:48:38.119the Lord opens his eyes and hesees all. There's this heavenly host,69500:48:38.280 --> 00:48:44.469this angel arm army that surrounds andof course they are encouraged right and right69600:48:44.909 --> 00:48:49.630by the numbers, by the sheernumbers of this heavenly hosts that God has69700:48:49.710 --> 00:48:53.670sent, yeah, a heavenly armyto to help us. And I don't69800:48:53.710 --> 00:48:58.900know that I've ever seen that.I think he's never rolled back the clouds69900:48:58.980 --> 00:49:01.019for me to see, but Iknow it's true. I know they're there,70000:49:01.099 --> 00:49:06.340and sometimes I'll visualize that as I'mstanding in front of the abortion center70100:49:06.380 --> 00:49:10.449and feeling discouraged, I remember thereis the heavenly host is all there.70200:49:10.690 --> 00:49:16.570Yeah, and and they are fightingfor us. Yeah, for God's glory70300:49:16.690 --> 00:49:22.610and for his purpose, and hispurpose is clearly to to save the innocent.70400:49:22.849 --> 00:49:25.519Yeah, absolutely, to protect thosethose babies. Yeah. So,70500:49:27.920 --> 00:49:34.960but but I thought that this versealso pointed out really a very important truth,70600:49:35.119 --> 00:49:38.070okay, that there's really only onenumber that matters. Yeah, and70700:49:38.230 --> 00:49:44.949that number is truly just one.Yeah, the one who stands with us70800:49:45.150 --> 00:49:47.789is God. Yeah, absolutely,and if he is with us, the70900:49:47.949 --> 00:49:52.429truly is all we need. Yeah, absolutely, that's yeah, keep in71000:49:52.510 --> 00:49:55.059mind one Saturday morning a couple ofweeks ago, we were on the sidewalk.71100:49:55.219 --> 00:49:59.940Me and Francine were there. Ibelieve was me and Francine and maybe71200:50:00.099 --> 00:50:02.340one other guy, maybe Kevin wasthere. Okays, are volunteers, for71300:50:02.420 --> 00:50:07.809those who are listening, and therewere a lot of the pro abortion people71400:50:07.849 --> 00:50:12.369were there already, yea, andthere were quite a few patients in the71500:50:12.489 --> 00:50:15.449parking line. They're only three ofus and it can get overwhelming sometimes when71600:50:15.449 --> 00:50:17.809it's only a few of us.And then we've been the police are there71700:50:19.010 --> 00:50:22.039and they're there being a hindrance towhat we're doing. It's just it's just71800:50:22.159 --> 00:50:25.360madness out there sometimes and Francine saidsomething like, you know, there's some71900:50:25.559 --> 00:50:29.280there's more of them than there areof us, and I said, Oh72000:50:29.280 --> 00:50:32.400yeah, it looks like we gotthem surrounded. There's more of them,72100:50:32.440 --> 00:50:35.949there are more of them numerically.But Hey, yeah, we've got the72200:50:36.030 --> 00:50:37.750Lord on our side, we've gotthe heavenly host, we've got the angel72300:50:37.789 --> 00:50:43.670armies and we really got them surrounded. Yeah, Yep, because we have72400:50:43.829 --> 00:50:46.829the power that raise Christ Jesus fromthe dead living in us. Right.72500:50:47.429 --> 00:50:52.340And you know, Romans thirty one, if goddess for us, who could72600:50:52.340 --> 00:50:55.699be against a guess, if theGod who made the heavens in the earth72700:50:57.099 --> 00:51:00.380is on our side, the wholeworld can be against us, we're still72800:51:00.380 --> 00:51:04.449going to have victory. Yeah,and and so, you know, I72900:51:04.489 --> 00:51:07.170want to encourage you guys, doyou guys who maybe are maybe just getting73000:51:07.210 --> 00:51:10.530involved, being on the sidewalk atan abortion clinting, maybe just getting involved73100:51:10.570 --> 00:51:15.369in some kind of prolife ministry?Maybe not yet involved, but want to73200:51:15.449 --> 00:51:19.599be involved. You know, we'recalled to a Bay God and out of73300:51:19.679 --> 00:51:22.599obedience to God there's going to befruit that's going to be born. I73400:51:22.599 --> 00:51:24.599don't want you guys to be encouraged. You know, if you've looked at73500:51:25.119 --> 00:51:29.320cities for life, if you lookedat our numbers, and you know sometimes73600:51:30.039 --> 00:51:32.349things that God intends to be anencouragement can be a discouragement and you can73700:51:32.389 --> 00:51:35.869think, well, I'm not I'mnot bearing that kind of fruit, I'm73800:51:35.909 --> 00:51:38.110not seeing baby saved on a regularbase or whatever. You know what,73900:51:38.469 --> 00:51:42.869it's not. Again, it's notabout that numbers. Encourage us, praise74000:51:42.909 --> 00:51:45.789God, take, take keep trackingnumber. That's that's one of the reasons,74100:51:45.869 --> 00:51:49.820original, originally, that the folksstarted keeping tracking numbers, just just74200:51:50.099 --> 00:51:53.539to being courage to see what Godis doing. Maybe you're not seeing those74300:51:53.539 --> 00:51:58.460numbers right now. Again, likeI mentioned, you maybe seek some counsel74400:51:58.539 --> 00:52:00.420from other folks. Reach out tous. You can reach out to me.74500:52:00.579 --> 00:52:04.889Deep Parks of cities for lifecom I'mnot going to claim to know all74600:52:04.929 --> 00:52:07.889the answers for you and correct everythingthat you're doing wrong. I'll give you74700:52:07.929 --> 00:52:09.809some suggestions to some of the thingsthat we've seen. They're effective on a74800:52:09.889 --> 00:52:14.050sidewalks and of the things that arenot effective, of course, in a74900:52:14.090 --> 00:52:16.679biblical framework, not in my opinion, not in some you know, board75000:52:16.719 --> 00:52:20.519room is people sit down and etchedout a scheme. No, it's not75100:52:20.639 --> 00:52:22.599like that. We want to dothings biblically and we do, but biblical75200:52:22.760 --> 00:52:25.039within a biblical framework. We aresome of the things that we've seen to75300:52:25.079 --> 00:52:28.800be effective and I love to sharesome of that stuff with you. You75400:52:29.000 --> 00:52:31.429can go on our sidewalks for life. That's why we established that website,75500:52:31.670 --> 00:52:38.230www upside, www dot sidewalks,the number for lifecom Vicki's writing articles.75600:52:38.230 --> 00:52:43.110I've written a few articles and thoseare there to help you be effective within75700:52:43.190 --> 00:52:45.539a biblical framework, to help youbear fruit. Want to bear fruit for75800:52:45.659 --> 00:52:49.980God. It's ultimately not about ourglory. It's not about the glory of75900:52:50.019 --> 00:52:53.340Cities Rush. It's about God beingglorified. He's the he's the Lord of76000:52:53.460 --> 00:52:57.300this Ministry. He's if you're aChristian, he's the Lord of your life76100:52:57.579 --> 00:53:00.570and all the fruit that's born.Just Give Glory to God for it.76200:53:00.769 --> 00:53:02.570Celebrate the numbers, like they didin the book of acts, the numbers76300:53:02.570 --> 00:53:07.210of babies that were say are peoplethat were saying day and as we celebrate76400:53:07.210 --> 00:53:09.010the numbers of babies are safe,and then give glory to God. It's76500:53:09.050 --> 00:53:13.480all God's doing. What we're addedto them, all of those who are76600:53:13.519 --> 00:53:16.880being saved. Right by whom?Not by Peter, right by God.76700:53:17.519 --> 00:53:22.320So as we see baby saved,we're giving glory to the Lord. It's76800:53:22.360 --> 00:53:25.800God that did it. We're I'mnot stupid enough to believe that I'm so76900:53:27.039 --> 00:53:30.429wise and so good that I canfigure out how to change a person's heart.77000:53:30.590 --> 00:53:32.949I can't. I can't do it, you can't do it, but77100:53:34.110 --> 00:53:37.469God can do it. Surrender tohim and watch him be glorified through your77200:53:37.469 --> 00:53:38.949life. So we hope we were. We were encouragement. Do you guys?77300:53:39.230 --> 00:53:44.539Hope you guys will continue to listen? Share this podcast, you know,77400:53:44.619 --> 00:53:46.059tell friends to listen. I thinkit will be encouragement to them.77500:53:46.099 --> 00:53:59.369But until next time, God blesso love for love, give me our77600:53:59.650 --> 00:54:10.719love for gratitude. I know itwill cost me my life. Nothing's too77700:54:10.960 --> 00:54:14.199precious. And some met you