OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST 2018- JUDGED BY THE COMPANY YOU KEEP

Memorise: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? 2Corinthians 6:14
Read: 2 Chronicles 18:28-32
28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.
31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORDhelped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 19-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-9:7

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1. Why does the Holy Spirit counsel us not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful? It is simply because you will be judged by the company you keep.
2. The story in today’s text is food for thought and a lesson to all those who think that they can still keep their old friends after their new birth experience. Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah, went in the company of Ahab, the evil king of Israel, to fight a battle. Despite the warning by God’s prophet that the outcome of the battle would not be favourable, he still went ahead with Ahab to fight in this battle (2 Chronicles 18:9-16).
3. Meanwhile, Ahab decided to disguise himself as an ordinary soldier, while he persuaded Jehoshaphat to dress in his royal roes. Unknown to Jehoshaphat, the king of Syria had instructed his soldiers to go after the king of Israel alone. So, on sighting Jehoshaphat dressed in royal apparel, the soldiers went after him, thinking he was the king of Israel. He would have been killed, but for divine intervention. One lesson here is that the king of Judah would not have been attacked if he had not kept company with an evil king who was under God’s judgement (2 Chronicles 18:27).
4. Another lesson is that keeping company with the ungodly exposes you to the dangers of fraudulent lifestyle. Why did King Ahab disguise himself as if he was not a king? One can only assume his motive was to set Jehoshaphat up for intense attack.
5. There have been stories of young school girls who have been defiled because of the promiscuous company that they kept. So-called “friends” have set friends up for gang rape. One reason why children of God must be wary of keeping company with the ungodly is that the children of this world know how to manoeuvre through the dangers of a sinful life, but the children of light don’t know the ways of this world (Luke 16:8).
6. The story was told of a good boy who went out for the very first time in the company of drug addicts. Unfortunately, they were arrested along by law enforcement agents and this boy was arrested along with drug addicts. His parents could not believe it when the news go to them. A Christian who keeps company with the ungodly will end up becoming a victim. It is certain that nothing good can come out of such relationships. Therefore, be careful of the people you associate or partner with.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 Bad company is unhealthy for any child of God. As such believer is exposed to their ungodly way continually they become influenced no matter how careful they are. It is therefore far better to stay away from such company. May God help us in Jesus name. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God bless and equip Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater works in Jesus name.

Action Point:
Check out the friends and brethren you associate with. Withdraw from any one of them who echibits ungodly attitudes.
HYMN 
I have decide to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross
Before me;
The world behind me, the cross
before me;
The world behind me, the cross
Before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow
Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow
Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow
Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

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