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Date Posted: 08:08:06 02/10/17 Fri
Author: c
Subject: Teachings 12

Teachings 12


Giving Away the Faith

Charles Stanley


Do you share your faith effectively and frequently? Think about that question for a minute. Does it prompt you to feel guilty, inadequate, or anxious? Many believers feel like failures when it comes to witnessing, despite all the emphasis the evangelical church places on this important subject.

Sometimes, we aren’t ready to share because we feel unequipped. The apostle Peter wrote that Christians should always be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks [them] to give an account for the hope that is in [them]” (1 Peter 3:15). The more prepared we are to present the evidence of God’s truth, the better God is able to change lives. If you feel unprepared to share what you believe, consider joining a class or reading a book on personal evangelism. Talking about faith is something anyone can learn to do.

Another obstacle to personal evangelism is the time it takes for God to move an unbeliever to saving faith. When I was younger, I wanted to plant the seed of belief, water, fertilize, cultivate, and harvest it all at once! I became frustrated when people didn’t receive Christ the first time they heard the gospel.

Now I understand that it’s “God who causes the growth” (1 Cor. 3:6). My part is to faithfully sow His Word and look for those who are ripe for harvest. In our day of instant results, it’s hard for us to be patient and trust the Lord to work in people’s hearts.

Remember, evangelism is a process. You may be doing a better job than you think. God works through your personality and faithfulness to His principles to draw someone into His Kingdom. It may be in the form of helping a neighbor with yard work, or taking food to a friend after the birth of a child.

Your efforts to reach your neighbors and friends will be fruitless, however, unless you have surrendered to the lordship of Christ. When Jesus is set apart as Lord, He will make your life so appealing to unbelievers that they will ask about the peace and contentment they observe (1 Peter 3:15).

Since evangelism is a process, we shouldn’t feel guilty if we don’t verbally witness to everyone we meet. But at the same time, we are responsible for building bridges to faith for the lost. When the time comes, we are to share verbally what Christ has done in our lives and what He is willing to do in theirs.

The attitude with which we communicate is as important as the words we say. The apostle Peter encouraged the early church to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ with “gentleness and respect”—in other words, with a sensitive and tactful spirit (1 Peter 3:15). The cross is offensive enough without a self-righteous attitude or condemning spirit getting in the way (Gal. 5:11).

As you explain God’s wonderful gift, remember that the process of evangelism may last months or years. The wonderful experience of sharing the message of Jesus with complete strangers and seeing them convert is the exception, not the rule. And even in these rare cases, someone else probably planted the seed.

Because most people don’t come to faith the first time they hear the gospel, you should be prepared for some to reject the message. It’s not unusual to have bad experiences with personal evangelism. Unfortunately, some encounters can be so traumatic and discouraging that you feel like giving up. People are easily offended, or they may feel threatened. Unbelievers may accuse you of being intolerant or “holier than thou.” Or, you may lead someone in a prayer for salvation and then see no real change in his or her life.

There is a price to be paid for being a part of another’s salvation. Some pain and frustration will be involved. But the struggle and disappointments are quickly forgotten when we see those we love birthed into God’s family. There is a joy that can’t be explained.

So, don’t give up on evangelism—that would mean giving up on God. After all, He is the One responsible to save and change lives. He simply wants us to be a part of the process.

Adapted from “Charles Stanley’s Handbook for Christian Living.” 1996.


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A Recipe for Renewal by Joseph E. Miller

In Touch Magazine 11/14

(excerpt from article)


p 15


At that time, Norma started attending a Bible. study led by a woman who really knew the Scriptures. And it was to her they turned when, one day, they knew they needed God to fill a void they themselves couldn't.

Norma invited her husband to meet this woman, who proceeded to tell them all about the Bible and God's plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. Yet she wouldn't pray with them for salvation, instead telling them to go home and individually call out to the Lord, repenting of sin. They did exactly that. Later, Crumbley asked her why she wouldn't pray with them on the spot. Her reply: "Because if you go home and do it, it'll be sincere."


-------------------------=


intouch.org radio 7/12/12


If any person is in Christ, he is a new creation. Grace is not about adding things to your life. You can add a whole bunch of stuff – like patching up clothes. I gotta put green patches, red patches, yellow patches, white patches - you know what? that wouldn’t make me a new person.

Something has to happen on the inside. Grace is about getting on the inside of your soul and spirit and transforming the very person you are. He said: “therefore, if any person be in Christ, he is a new creation”.

20:41

Think about what is involved in sharing our faith. First of all: it’s an act of love. You are expressing love to someone, when you’re willing to pour out your heart to them, share what God has been doing in your life and explain to them how to be saved.

Secondly, it’s an act of obedience. He said: “As you go, make disciples of all nations”. Somebody says: “well, but He’s just talking about preachers and missionaries”. No He’s not. That is the responsibility of every person.

Third, it’s an act of faith. And I mean by that simply this: that when you share your faith, and you explain to someone what the Bible says, and you explain to them for example what John 3:16 means: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life”, it’s an act of faith on your part that when you present that to someone, that person is going to listen, they’re going to believe the Word of God, they’re going to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. That’s why we do it. That’s what it’s all about.

Think about this: when you share your faith with someone else, God always honors that and He always blesses that. You cannot share your faith without being rewarded by God in one of different ways. One of those is this awesome sense of satisfaction you have that you obeyed God, this sense of love that you poured out to someone else – that you feel in return.

And often times when you see what happens in their life, imagine this and think about it, one of the things we should think about is this that when we share our faith, God radically changes someone else’s life. And all of us know people who need a change in their life: Their lifestyle, what they do, how they live, their conduct, their character, their conversation. And when you share your faith, you’re having a part in that.

Then, think about this: it changes someone’s eternal destiny – where they’re going to spend eternity. Now when you put all of that together, would you not agree, that it is not just an obligation, it is an awesome opportunity. The Bible says: “for by grace you’ve been saved not by yourself but by faith. Not of works lest any person should boast”.

Then he says that: “He predestined that you and I would walk in good works”. What is a better work in the christian life than sharing your faith with someone else? And you say: “but suppose I don’t know what to say?” And here’s a wonderful passage in Luke chapter 12 verse 12. It’s a very simple passage and here’s what He says: “for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say”.

Remember when you trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, the Holy Spirit came into your life to live. And what does He do? He works through you and in you to accomplish the things that God has set before you.


---------


May 23, 2014

Practical Ways to Bear Burdens

Read | 1 Thessalonians 5:14


There are hurting people everywhere, but at times we just don't know what to say or do to ease their pain. Here are six practical ways to bear someone else's burdens:

1) Be there. At times the best "method" of helping is simply to be present. During our darkest hours, we don't need someone who tries in vain to fix everything; we just need a friend.

2) Listen. Don't attempt to give answers or tell people what to do next. Injured souls frequently want only a listening ear so they can express what's on their mind.

3) Share. Never parade yourself as someone who seemingly has all the answers. Instead, allow your own pain and failures to help others.

4) Pray. There is power in speaking people's names before the Lord. When others hear someone talk to Jesus on their behalf, healing often starts to take place.

5) Give. Sometimes helping others involves more than a handshake or warm hug. Maybe they need something financial or material. One of the best measures of sincerity is how much we're willing to give to others.

6) Substitute. You may know an individual who bears the burden of caring for someone else. If you step in and take his or her place for a while, you are emulating your Savior—He, too, was a substitute.

Because we were unable to do it ourselves, Jesus bore all of our sin and sorrow, even unto death. As a result, we can live happily and eternally in communion with our Father. If Christ did that for us, how can we ever say, "I'm too busy to bear someone else's burden"?


-----------------------------------------------


The Phenomenon of ingratitude (edited)

by Stennett Eberly (Beside the still waters)


I have....become fascinated by something I'll call the phenomenon of ingratitude. When such a disappointment occurs, I....immediately begin to say things like, "Why does this always have to happen?"

My guess is that these expressions probably sound familiar to you too. And this is fascinating because when we examine such thinking, we find it completely false....But why do I find it much easier to remember the times when I didn't get what I wanted?

I believe my answer is found in my attitude toward God. Whenever I have such thoughts, I am showing that I really think God owes me good things. And I reveal the extent of my ingratitude when I forget to appreciate the good things He does send my way.

Although these types of expressions may sometimes be humorous or innocent, I do believe that we christians should examine ourselves if we find such thoughts dominating. We should heed Philippians 4:8: "Whatsoever things are true...think on these things." The truth is God has blessed us far beyond what we deserve!


-----------------------------


intouch.org radio 7/12/14

22:50


…. but it made me think the rest of the day how many times there are things probably around us of God’s way of reminding us of how good He is and that He’s thinking about us…..God probably does that in ways that we don’t even stop to think. So you might just look around and ask yourself the question: “God, what do you have around me that I’ve just looked right by and that was Your way of telling me how much You love me?” Because He’s always expressing that. I think we have to be sensitive - and it just may be that there’s something around you that you need to see before this day is…. So why don’t you ask God: “Lord, open my eyes and help me to see something especially for me.”


---------------------------


In Touch magazine November 2014

p 6

Grateful Hearts (edited portion of an essay)

by Charles Stanley

First of all, expressing gratitude to God redirects our attention toward Him……However, if we start the day by offering thanks for blessings, protection, and guidance, our perspective will shift from ourselves to our awesome God, Who loves and cares for us.

Counting our blessings also reinforces our faith.....

Another benefit of gratitude is that it refreshes our relationship with the Lord. The quickest way to dig yourself out of an emotional ditch of discouragement and negativity is to start praising God……

We don’t have to wait until we feel grateful to thank the Lord. In fact, the best time for thanksgiving is when we’re feeling the least appreciative. That’s when we need it most.


Also explored on Intouch.org radio 11/1/14, 11/8/14 and 11/28/14 broadcasts


----------=


intouch.org radio 11/28/14

11:12


Here's what I've discovered: you don't give thanks when you feel like it, you give thanks when you don't feel like it so before long you'll be feeling like it. Because that is exactly what happens. When you deliberately, willfully begin to thank Him, it is amazing what happens to your emotions: they change. That's the awesome power and the impact. Listen, words of thank You: "I thank You, Father. I don't feel like it, God. I don't like any of this, I'd change it - but I just want to thank You anyway. I just want to praise You and thank You for what I'm going through because You're allowing it to happen. You're trusting me with it. You've got something in mind I don't understand - I'm still telling You God 'I don't like it' - but I'm telling You Lord that I'm grateful". In other words...you say: "well, that's mind over matter". No it's not because there's some matters your mind can't handle. The truth is: it is a matter of verbal expression of the truth. You are thankful to God.


-----------------=


intouch.org Daily devotion 11/28/14

(excerpt)


God wants to hear our honest concerns and even anger or confusion about our trials, but He also wants us to trust Him to see us through. Focusing on the Lord and praising Him does not mean we pretend to enjoy tough times—that would be insincere. But we can honestly acknowledge that He is in control of the situation and will guide our every step, just as He promised (Prov. 3:5-6).


-----------------------------=


intouch.org TV Broadcast 11/23/14


True, heartfelt, daily thanksgiving has a
powerful impact on our lives.

It results in a changed mindset and a desire to obey
the Lord.

Gratitude . . .

- Keeps us continually aware that we are walking in
God’s presence. This contributes to a godly lifestyle.

- Motivates us to look for the Lord’s purposes in
everything in our lives. Even if we don’t understand
what He’s doing, thanking Him lifts the burden.

- Helps us bring our will into submission to His when
we suffer pain or loss. By thanking Him in the midst
of our pain, we acknowledge His loving sovereignty.

- Continually reminds us that He is our God and
motivates us to tell others about Him.

- Reminds us of our continuing dependence on Him.

- Helps us trust the Lord. Because He alone knows
what’s best, we can thank Him even if we don’t
understand why something’s happening. God
honors our thanksgiving the most when we feel like
we have the least reason for gratitude.

- Is essential for rejoicing in the midst of suffering.
When the bottom drops out of our lives and
everything looks dark, songs of praise and
thanksgiving restore our hope, assuring us that God
is the Light in our darkness.

- Removes anxiety. Praise and gratitude drive out
fretting and worry.

- Keeps our focus on the Lord. The situation may not
change, but our attitude will.

- Energizes us physically, mentally, emotionally, and
spiritually.


-----------------------=


intouch.org radio 11/22/14


7:40


"Of all the physical things that I could put my hand on, the thing that you and I ought to be most grateful for is the Word of God."

9:34

Grateful people (people with a grateful heart/spirit):

- have a positive attitude

- are aware of the Heavenly Father's presence (helping us)

- have a humble spirit

- are peaceful

- are thoughtful of others

- are generous and unselfish (because we recognize what the Heavenly Father is doing for us)

- are expressive (witnessing about grace and blessings to others)

- are friendly

- are contagious in respect of their positive attitude

- are motivated to share, give, etc.

- have a servant's spirit

- have a high level of faith (we see the Heavenly Father working continually therefore that affects our thinking)

- are fruitful

- are joyful (have a positive outflow even during difficult times)

17:21

Grateful people can be a positive influence because good things begin to "flow" almost effortlessly. Goodness, love, mercy and generosity begin to flow through us.


-------------------=


TD Jakes sermon 7/13/14 (summary not direct quotes)


Saints should not curse the little bit that we might have (with unthankful attitudes and words) because the Heavenly Father can take the little bit we have and make it work effectively in our lives (Abraham and Sarah conceiving Isaac when they were old, Genesis 17:17 - 21, 18:14, 21:1 - 8, Hebrews 11:12, and Elijah and the widow and her son having food from a handful of meal for an extended period of time, 1 Kings 17:8-16). Saints should be wise and recognize/confess that the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can work with the little bit we have been blessed with when we stretch with our faith and actions and attitudes.


----------------------------


There is a thin line between: "I perceive that a blessing/reward is coming" and "I feel like I deserve a blessing/reward". This is a tricky pitfall that can cause conflict within and can be hard to deal with and/or resolve.


----------------------------


There is a thin line between: "Nothing is impossible with the Heavenly Father" (Luke 1:37)/"Nothing is too hard for the Heavenly Father" (Jeremiah 32:17, 32:27) and "I think the Heavenly Father should do this for me"/"Why hasn't the Heavenly Father done this for me?"/"Why isn't the Heavenly Father doing this for me?" Another tricky pitfall to be careful to avoid getting mired in.


--------------------


In Touch Magazine June 2014, p 17,18

"Why chase joy?" by Andrew Wilson

(edited)

....there are four excellent reasons to pursue joy and delight in God with all your heart....As one guy in my church puts it, we are looking for a joy that reaches the face.

The first reason is that if you want to glorify God…..the best way of doing it is to delight in Him….That’s why worship involves singing so much: it basically involves being happy in God and then telling Him about it.

The second is that pursuing our highest joy, in God, is one way Jesus says we experience the Kingdom….. (Matthew 13:44)

Third, pursuing our highest joy, in God, is also how we fight against sin in this life…..To paraphrase him (C.S. Lewis) in The Weight of Glory, if you really care about your happiness, you won’t fool around with drink and sex and ambition but will devote yourself to the infinite joy found in God,……The heart will always look to rejoice in something beyond itself, so rather than trying to squash desire, we should instead look to satisfy it – in God.

The fourth reason is that pursuing joy is what Jesus did, right to the cross and out the other side (Hebrews 12:2)….Jesus traded in short-term intense suffering for long-term intense happiness. Esau did the opposite…..Therefore, the writer (of Hebrews) urges us: Imitate Jesus, consider which course of action will lead to your greatest long-term happiness, and take it.

So there are four good reasons to pursue your own joy in God (not to mention….Philippians 4:4). Doing so glorifies God, allows us to experience the Kingdom, helps us to fight sin, and teaches us to imitate Jesus.


--------------------------=


intouch.org Daily devotion, Jan 16, 2015

Keeping a Young Attitude


Read | Psalm 103:1-5

We all want to live each day fully. To do that, we need to maintain a youthful attitude instead of letting ourselves grow old and useless to the Kingdom. Here are some suggestions for staying young all our life.

First, we need to keep laughing. We are never more like children then when we are having fun with our friends. Yet in order to laugh, we at times must let go of emotional baggage. Some people have been hurt deeply, and their laughter is buried under old pains. But clutching past bitterness and feelings of rejection will age us quickly. Jesus Christ is willing to remove all that ugliness when we lay it down, which we do by forgiving ourselves and others—perhaps repeatedly. Every day is a fresh start and another chance for our indwelling God to help us smile and laugh.

Second, we should keep longing. That means we ought to keep chasing our dreams and working toward goals. When a person wakes up with something to accomplish or a friend to aid, he or she experiences more of the joy life has to offer. As soon as we settle for watching the world go by, we start to age.

Finally, and most importantly, we must keep leaning on the Lord. If we live with childlike trust, God will bless our life and use us to bring blessing upon others. He will give a sense of contentment so deep that no trial or spiritual attack can shake us.
As believers, we have the opportunity to take part in the Lord’s work every day of our life. If we give up before He wants us to stop, we cheat both God and ourselves.


---------


intouch.org radio 8/28/14, 8/29/14

Integrity in the Life of the Believer - Part 1, Part 2

(summary of messages)

Luke 6:31

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Psalms 15:1,2

(A Psalm of David). LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.


People who have integrity are trustworthy. A person must examine what convictions are guiding his or her behavior. A christian should be a person of integrity because lying and being deceitful erode a person’s conscience and character and bring dishonor on a person. The more a christian goes further down the path of dishonesty, the more a christian becomes corrupt and desensitized to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The consequences could start off small and later become devastating.

Failing to trust the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can cause a christian to fall into being deceptive. A christian might have to go beyond just apologizing and actually make amends by making some sort of restitution for wrong/deceitful behavior.

Integrity is very important in the eyes of God….. One of the worst things the unbelieving world can see is a believer (one who claims to know Jesus Christ as personal Savior) who is unreliable, insincere, untrustworthy – a person you cannot trust to tell the truth….Your whole future is going to be affected by who you are and how you live it out.


-------------


TD Jakes: The fight with frustration - Part 1


(several summarized points from the sermon)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf7RyBGTvrA


Numbers 20:7 - 13,


21:30 minutes in

Speak to the Rock, not the source of the frustration (people). Feed the people you love.

22:25 minutes in

Vent it to Jesus....let the Spirit make groanings and moanings - not to the people


--------------------------------


Psalms 106:32,33 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.


--------------------------------------=


Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.


The words “time” and “chance” in this verse have been translated that way in several different translations. You can find several commentaries about this verse that claim that “time and chance” are different from the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s control or providence.

Before you agree with those interpretations, you should note that there are many commentaries that do analyze “time and chance” as being under the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s control or providence:


http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/ecclesiastes/9.htm

Pulpit commentary

Everything has its proper season appointed by God, and man is powerless to control these arrangements. Our English word "chance" conveys an erroneous impression. What is meant is rather "incident," such as a calamity, disappointment, unforeseen occurrence. All human purposes are liable to be changed or controlled by circumstances beyond man's power, and incapable of explanation. A hand higher than man's disposes events, and success is conditioned by superior laws which work unexpected results.


-----------------------------------------=


http://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/ecclesiastes/9.htm

Matthew Poole’s commentary

Time and chance happeneth to them all; there are some times or seasons unknown and casual to men, but certain and determined by God, in which alone He will give men success.


------------------------------------------=


http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Ecc/Ecc_009.cfm?a=668011


Matthew Henry Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9

2. He resolves all these disappointments into an over-ruling power and providence, the disposals of which to us seem casual, and we call them chance, but really they are according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, here called time, in the language of this book, ch. 3:1; Ps 31:15. Time and chance happen to them all. A sovereign Providence breaks men's measures, and blasts their hopes, and teaches them that the way of man is not in himself, but subject to the divine will. We must use means, but not trust to them; if we succeed, we must give God the praise (Ps. 44:3) if we be crossed, we must acquiesce in His will and take our lot.


--------------------------------------------=


http://biblehub.com/commentaries/kad/ecclesiastes/9.htm

Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary

God alone gives the victory (Psalm 33:16). Even so the gaining of bread, riches, favour (i.e., influence, reputation), does not lie in wisdom, prudence, knowledge of themselves, as an indispensable means thereto; but the obtaining of them, or the not obtaining of them, depends on times and circumstances which lie beyond the control of man, and is thus, in the final result, conditioned by God (cf. Romans 9:16);


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http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/jfb/Ecc/Ecc_009.cfm?a=668011

Ecclesiastes; or the Preacher

Commentary by A.R. Fausset

chance - seemingly, really Providence. But as man cannot "find it out" (Ecc 3:11), he needs "with all might" to use opportunities. Duties are ours; events, God's.


--------------------------------------------------=


http://biblehub.com/commentaries/homiletics/ecclesiastes/9.htm

Pulpit Commentary Homiletics

2. God's intervening wisdom. It may often happen that God sees that human strength or wisdom has outlived its modesty, its beauty, and its worth, and that it needs to be checked and broken. So He sends defeat where victory has been assured, poverty where wealth has been confidently reckoned upon, discomfiture and rejection where men have been holding out their hand for favor and reward.

III. THE PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS?

1. Do not count too confidently on outward good. Work for it faithfully, hope for it with a well-moderated expectation, but do not set your heart upon it as an indispensable blessing. Be prepared to do without it. Have those inner, deeper, diviner resources which will fill the heart with grace and the life with an admirable contentment, even if the goal is not gained and the prize is not secured. Be supplied with those treasures which the thief cannot steal, and which will leave the soul rich though the bank be broken and the purse be emptied.

2. Guard carefully against the worst evils. Be so fortified with Divine truth and sacred principles within, and secure so much of God's favor and protection from above, that no snares of sin will be able to mislead and to betray - that the feet will never be found entangled in the nets of the enemy.

3. Anticipate the Divine discipline. Live in such conscious and in suchacknowledged dependence upon God for every stroke that is struck, for all strength and wisdom that are gained, for all bounties and all honors that are reaped, that there will be no need for the intervening hand of Heaven to break your schemes or to remove your treasures. - C.


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It is wise to realize that Ecclesiastes is a complex book and that other well-known and “controversial” verses that promote the activity “eat, drink and be merry” (Ecclesiastes 8:15, 9:7 verses so controversial that Time magazine in the Sunday, Jan. 09, 2005 issue in an article written by David Van Biema claimed that Jesus Christ in Luke 12:19,20 “seems to take a slap at Ecclesiastes”) have been analyzed by some Jewish scholars as actually promoting “studying the Scriptures and being merry” (Jesus may have been slapping at wrong interpretations of the book Ecclesiastes in Luke 12:19,20).


That claim seems to be mirrored in the Gospel of John chapter 6:


John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.

So, in conclusion, be very careful about accepting negative interpretations of the book Ecclesiastes because there seems to be a lot going on under the surface of the book Ecclesiastes.


-----------------------------=


1 Samuel 30:6 – 8 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And He answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them and without fail recover all.


Bishop TD Jakes taught that the church has overemphasized the encouragement aspect of 1 Samuel 30:6.

Bishop TD Jakes said that the Heavenly Father told him that the situation was like the BP (British Petroleum) oil disaster of 2005 because oil that could have been used in a powerful and beneficial way was now wasted in a toxic way.

So similarly, if encouragement is not followed by focused action (like David and the priest Abiathar went from encouragement to action in 1 Samuel 30:7,8) encouragement will become wasted and an unwise fixation (similar to a drug addiction).

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