Rehabilitating The Ex-Convicts, Drug Addicted; (David's Example).

TOPIC: REHABILITATING THE EX-CONVICTS, DRUG ADDICTED; (DAVID'S EXAMPLE).


PRAYER POINT:
Father, help me to be a source of hope to those in hopeless situations.

BIBLE PASSAGE:
1 Samuel 22:1-5

1. David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.

2. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

3. And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

4. And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

5. And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
1 Sam 22:21-23

21. And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests.

22. And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.

23. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
1 Sam 23:13; Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
1 Sam 30:9-10

9. So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.

10. But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.

INTRODUCTION:
 Many of us have heard the stories of drug addicts or drunkard who overcome addition as a result of a religious transformation. Likewise, we often hear stories of criminals and prisoners who have experienced dramatic turnaround as a result of a spiritual conversion.

MEMORY VERSE: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17.

TEXT REVIEW:
 I Sam.22:1-5,21-23; 23:13; 30:9-10.

i. You should love and care for those in hopeless situation.

ii. Acceptability should be without exception.

iii. You should be a source of inspiration to the just as David.

iv. They should have a sense of security around you.

v. You are expected to instruct them on what to do, and how to get it done.

LESSON OUTLINE

*David Turned The Hopeless/Debtors/Criminals into a Disciplined Army. 1Sam.21:1-2.

1. David fled for his dear life when King Saul sought to kill him. 1Sam.19:10; 18:5, 13.

2. He identified with the various hopeless and distressed persons and other offenders such as debtors; all of them had fled the cities and made their abode in a community called Adullam.1 Sam.22:2. They all agreed to make their leader. With this integration, about four hundred men placed their lives in his hands to direct them.

3. This army increased to six hundred me. 1 Sam.27:2; 30:9. David had helpers of his destiny and he kept on winning his battles.

4. David successfully gave hope to the hopeless and restored confidence to those in distress and assurance to the debtors all numbering about four hundred men in Adullam and nurtured them into a vibrant army, well-disciplined, and committed.1 Sam.22:2; 30:9-10.

Some strategies that will help us rehabilitate the ex-convicts, drug addicts, the rejected etc successfully back into our communities.

i. Prisoners and the society must see the prison as a place of reformation and not stigmatization.

ii. Skill acquisition must be given a priority to prepare the prisoners to be gainfully employed/
engaged after leaving the prison premises.

iii. Ex-convicts should be regularly offered professional counselling and advice to help adjust to life outside the prison.

iv. There should not be any form of discrimination against ex-convicts in the areas of education, employment etc.

SUMMARY:
 God uses foolish thongs of this world to confound the wise.

CONCLUSION:
 We should not discriminate against ex-convicts, or ex-drug addicts, urchins etc but rehabilitate them in love; offering them new means of legal livelihood and introduce them Christ to them for a new life.(2 Cor. 5:17).