It is time to pursue

IT IS TIME TO PURSUE
The dictionary defined the word pursue as :To follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment.
(transitive) To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
(transitive) To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).
(transitive) To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).

Gen 14:14-16 KJV 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

In the text above, Abraham heard that his nephew Lot was taken captive. Abraham did not remain passive or say it serves Lot right after all he took that portion of land when he was given opportunity to select where to dwell. Rather Abraham armed all the trained men in his house and he pursued after those people.

The word “pursue” in Hebrew is “radaph” and it means: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after, to pursue, put to flight, chase, dog, attend closely upon, to persecute, harass (figuratively), to follow after, aim to, secure (figuratively), to run after (a bribe) (figuratively), to pursue ardently, aim eagerly to secure, pursue.

Abraham pursued them to Dan, from there he followed after them to Hobah until he met them, slain them and took back not only his brother/nephew Lot but all the goods stolen from them.
I decree over you that you will recover whatever the enemy has taken from you in Jesus name.

By the law of first mention, whenever you see pursue afterwards it means the same, that is to go after, run after with the aim to chase and claim back things. When you pursue, it means something or somebody has gone ahead of you or taken away from you and you need to go after the person or thing.

When Laban heard that his two daughters and the flocks had been taken by Jacob and they had all gone in the night, the Bible tells us what he did.

Gen 31:23 KJV And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

He overtook Jacob and if not for God’s intervention that prevented him, he would have harmed Jacob but God had spoken to him in his dream in the night. The divine intervention saved Jacob. Everyone pursuing you to harm you shall be disgraced in Jesus name.

When somebody is destined for failure in life, he will pursue the children of God to his destruction. Such was the case of Pharaoh and his army. The children of Israel had been given permission to leave under the strong hand of God by plaques and punishment on the Egyptians. Yet, Pharaoh will not let them go, the Bible says he pursued them.

Exo 14:8-9 KJV 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. 9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

He pursued them and even when he saw them entering into the Red Sea on dry land, he assuage to do so as Psalmist said but that was his doom. All the host of Pharaoh perished in the Sea.

Exo 14:23 KJV And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

They never came out. Every host of Pharaoh that has pursued you till this time shall not survive the red sea in Jesus name. You will not see them again.

God saved the spies that were sent by Joshua to see what Jericho actually looks like. They abode in the house of Rahab the harlot. The king heard about them and sent army to pursue them, they searched for them but they could not locate them. The Lord confused them.

Jos 2:22 KJV And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.

Everyone pursued you to arrest and kill you shall not get you in Jesus name.

The people of Ai came out en mass to pursue the children of Israel and left their city open unknowingly that the Extraordinary Strategist had planned against them. By the time they looked back the ambush had risen against them and they were defeated.

Jos 8:16-18 KJV 16 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. 17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel. 18 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.

Such will be the lot of your pursuers.

In the quest of promised land campaign, Adonibezek was encountered he had the reputation of cutting the big toe and thumb of captured kings and had about seventy kings with their thumbs cut off picking their remnants under his table. However, the table turned against him and he was pursued by Israelites, he had his own thumbs cut off.

Jdg 1:6 KJV But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

His aim of cutting people’s thumbs and big toes is to incapacitate them for life. Such wicked power are still existing today rendering people’s life useless by incapacitating them. May such power cease in your life in Jesus name.

Sisera the captain of Syrian army fled but Barak will not let it be, he pursued after him. So many time we should not take fifty person victory but go after everything.

Jdg 4:15-16 KJV 15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.

The man ran to Jael tent where he was knocked down by a woman but Barak continued to pursue until he was informed of the death of Sisera. what a great attitude.

It is important to never let your enemy escape. The same way Barak pursued Sisera was he same way Gideon and his men pursued the Amalekites till they got their heads off.

Jdg 7:24-25 KJV 24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. 25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

After the defeat of Goliath, the children of Israel went after the Philistines. They pursued them until they routed them out. It was a mighty victory over the enemy that had been ranting over them for forty days.

1Sa 17:52 KJV And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
I marvel at the way God rescues people in the Bible. Help and divine intervention at the right time. That was the case of David when he was edged in by Saul and his army, there was no way David would have escaped but at the last minute God intervene. Read the account for yourself:

1Sa 23:25-28 KJV 25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. 27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. 28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

May God destabilize every evil pursuers in Jesus name.

Imagine going to work and come back to find out that your home has being violated and all your properties and families taken away. How will you feel? The same way you are feeling now was the way the men of David felt. They were discouraged and cried like babies. But David did something i learnt a lot from:

1Sa 30:8-10 KJV 8 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. 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.

He pursued them and God directed his way by providing a man left to die by his master who showed them the direction the Amalekite took. Here is the testimony:

1Sa 30:18-20 KJV 18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. 19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all. 20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil.

If you remember, when Abraham pursued the people that took his brother he came back with all, David a great grandson of Abraham performed the same feat. It is a lesson to us. I pray for you that as you pursue, you will take over and not only that you will recover all.

The book of 1Sam, 2Sam, 1Chr and 2Chr are full of stories of one pursuit or the other and i will like to lump them together.

Asahel was described as light foot. He pursued Abner even when he was warned over and over again he will not let go and what was the end of it, he was struck with a Javelin

2Sa 2:19 KJV And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

The same Abner was pursued by Joab and Abishai

2Sa 2:24 KJV Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

When Sheba wanted to cause civil war secessionist, David ordered that he be pursued and he was.

2Sa 20:6 KJV And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

judgement has come over Jerusalem and it was time for recompense. The city was broken into and the invading arming pursued the king.

2Ki 25:4-5 KJV 4 And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king’s garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain. 5 And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.

Consequence was that the king was taken into captivity, the city burnt and the temple razed down.

This act of pursuing the enemy was a great attitude by David and this is what he wrote in his psalms:

Psa 18:37 KJV I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

2Sa 22:38-41 KJV 38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. 39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. 40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. 41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

Under the New Covenant
There is a misconception about the New Testament grace, people think that all the goodness of God bestowed upon us comes on and to us automatically, but nothing can be farther from the truth as the things of God does not automatically come to pass in the life of people. We have to go after them and pursued them. They are already ours Ephe 1: 3 says God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Peter says the same in a different way that His divine power has given unto us all that pertains to life and godliness.
The reason why these spiritual realities are not been physically enjoyed by many Christians is because we don’t go after them

The Greek word used for receiving in the New Testament is worth looking at. Read my book “HOW TO RECEIVE THE PROMISES”. The book goes into the details but i will just enumerate the most obvious one. It will give us an insight into what i am really digging at.

Rom 5:17 KJV For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

The Greek word for “receive” is “lambano” and it means: to take, to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it, to take up a thing to be carried, to take upon one’s self, to take in order to carry away without the notion of violence, i,e to remove, take away, to take what is one’s own, to take to one’s self, to make one’s own, to claim, procure, for one’s self, to associate with one’s self as companion, attendant of that which when taken is not let go, to seize, to lay hold of, apprehend, to take by craft (our catch, used of hunters, fisherman, etc.), to circumvent one by fraud to take to one’s self, lay hold upon, take possession of, i.e. to appropriate to one’s self catch at, reach after, strive to obtain, to take a thing due, to collect, gather (tribute), to take, to admit, receive, to receive what is offered. Figuratively [probably objective or active, to get hold of.
It is expected that we go after all the promises of God and receive them. We should “lambabno” them, make them ours. We should not be passive at the things of God. This is how Peter quoted the psalmist in one of the great promises of the Bible.

1Pe 3:10-11 KJV 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

Peter was quoting psalm 34:12. The Greek word used for seek is “zeteo” and it means; to seek in order to find, to seek a thing, to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into, to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after, to seek, i.e. require, demand, to crave, demand something from someone.

In order words, to strive after something or demand something from someone. This is very important. Many Christians are passive in this area. They pray casually and say if it be God’s will i will have it.
In the same manner, the word “ensue” in Greek is “dioko” and it means: to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away, to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after, to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal, to pursue (in a hostile manner)

The sense is the same with the word pursue. It means to run swiftly in order to catch a person or a thing. It means also to run after which is the same definition given to pursue.
Why will Peter asks us to seek and ensue peace? Was he not the one that says in 2Pet 1: 3 that peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.
He want us to seek it as a hidden treasure, and pursue it as if it might escape. It is not something that comes on us like a seizure but we have to place a demand on what is rightly ours.

The same attitude is to be given to other blessings of God in that we have to seek them and follow after them. These are various things we need to follow:

Rom 14:19 KJV Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
1Co 14:1 KJV Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
1Th 5:15 KJV See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
1Ti 6:11 KJV But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Heb 12:14 KJV Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

The same Greek word “dioko” used for “ensue” is the same word used for “follow after”

It is time to pursue your miracles and blessings. They are yours. The way to possess your possession is to go after it diligently. Our Lord says ask, seek and knock. Seek and you shall found. The tense for the word “seek” is present tense, it means he who continue to seek will find. This is how Amplified put it:

Matthew 7:7-8 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.7:8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.

This has place a responsibility on us. It is time to pursue.
So many people set goals at the beginning of the year but their dreams and aspiration never see the light of the day because they didn’t have the tenacity to pursue after their objectives.
If you pursue, you will recover like Abraham and David. Go out there pursue your job, marriage, ministry, education, joy, abundance, peace in your home and every blessings of life.