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The Ministry of Rescue and Recovery

Our plan:'
An eight (number of new beginning) week course that will go over the subjects listed below. Our plan is that at the end of the eight weeks, they will be ready to return to their battalion (church) and get back in the thick of the battle.

All lessons taken from the book of Colossians

Week 1 Forgiveness (Col.3:13)
Week 2 Peace with self and God (Col.3:15)
Week 3 Growth (Col.3:16)
Week 4 Service (Col.3:24)
Week 5 Prayer (Col.4:2)
Week 6 Warning of the dangers of bitterness and the damage it causes(Col.1:28)
Week 7 Rewards (Col.3:24)
Week 8 Restoration with the brethren and with God (Col.2:2)

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." Galatians 6:1-3

1 Sam 30:18-20, "And David recovered all that the (1) Amalekites had carried away: And there was nothing lacking to them, (2) neither small nor great, (3) neither sons nor daughters, (4) neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all. And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil."

Prov.18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. In any branch of the service, the main objection is to be in shape, to be ready to go to war. Not only to go, but also to win any battle that may face them. In the course of the battle, there are casualties; i.e. death, wounded, etc. However, there is one casualty that brings not only the unit together, but a nation, and that is the p.o.w.(the prisoner of war) The thought of an enemy holding one of our own men or women hostage brings anger and aggression to the point of strategy of recovering and bringing them home. Lives have been lost, millions have been spent around the world in order to achieve this goal.

Quickly reviewing 1 Sam 30:18-20 shows David's ambition to retrieve what God had given him.

1. Amalekites had carried away. The Amalekite being a picture of Satan.
2. Neither small nor great. Church members, choir singers, nursery workers, pastors, missionaries, evangelists.
3. Neither sons nor daughters. Church members who have lost sons and daughters to the world.
4. Neither spoil. Those that once tithed to the church to help keep it running now spend their money to help support the devils work leaving our churches in a financial bind.

The Bible than says that David recovered all. And not only that, but his attitude was "These things (his wives, sons, daughters, flocks and herds) are mine. God gave them to me and I'm taking them back!" It is quite apparent that David did not do this all on his own, but he had help. They were all of the same mind, and had the same motive; to rescue and bring back to their homes all that God had given them.

As Christians, we are in a army. And our goal should be the same as the worlds, to be in shape, to be ready to go to war. We also have battles and casualties. However, our view of the p.o.w. is different than that of the worlds. Unfortunately, the Christian of the 90's have little use for those that have either deserted or have been taken captive by Satan. The general feeling among most is "they are reaping what they've been sowing" instead of getting angry at the wiles of the devil and making strategies of how they can be recovered. Most forget what the Bible says in 1 Cor.10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

However, our strategy for recovering those taken captive is quite different than that of a regular army. Those taken captive in a war wait earnestly for their liberators, while those taken captive by Satan most times do not wish to be liberated, but to stay in captivity. The objection of this ministry is to show them their need to recover themselves out of the snare of the devil.

However, that is not the only reason. When we see one of our brethren fall away from church, from service to the Lord, we need to do everything that we can to try to rescue them. Bitterness and anger is a very tough enemy to face. Feelings get hurt intentionally and unintentionally. As we move closer and closer to the Lord's return, it takes less and less for Christians to drop away. Not only will we use the Word of God to restore them, but also we will use longsuffering, patience, understanding, and wisdom to restore unto them the joy of their salvation. (for there is no joy in the clutches of Satan.)

(Mike Althaus is an ordained baptist preacher and currently ministering out of Lighthouse Baptist Church, 7024 Amherst St., San Diego, CA 92115 USA; phone: (619) 461-5561. You may e-mail Mike Althaus at: malt55@juno.com)