Topic: Forge Godly Partnerships
Text: 1 Kings 22:29 -38
Key verse: The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “As we go into battle, I will disguise myself so no one will recognize me, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.
Going into battle is a dangerous activity, but worse still when you join the wrong battalion. Have you ever heard of friendly fire? In military combat when a person is shot by one’s forces, especially when causing damage near or casualties to one’s troops, it is referred to as friendly fire. Many have lost their battles even their lives from missiles shot at them by ungodly friends.
Let us take a closer look at these two Kings, Ahab was the King of Israel while Jehoshaphat was the King of Judah. Recall that Judah was originally part of Israel but after King
Solomon sinned against the Lord, the kingdom divided under his son Rehoboam, and the people of Judah separated from the other tribes of Israel. ( 1 Kings 12)
This is what the scriptures say about king Ahab in 1 Kings 21:25-26.
No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. His worst outrage was worshiping idols[a] just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites.
That was the kind of person King Jehoshaphat chose to make a friend and go into a military alliance with.
Be careful who you make friends with and make a prayer partner, not all men have faith! Some believers go to great lengths to forge friendships with prominent Christian leaders, celebrity ministers, and affluent brethren without inquiry from God. To forge is to form or make, especially by concentrated effort: why do you have to labor so hard buying gifts, visiting, calling, serving just to be in the good books of another? Have you asked the Lord if he is part of your own company? The apostles in the book of Acts had their own company and in the time of distress, they knew where to run to.
Ahab invited Jehoshaphat to join him in a battle against Ramoth-Gilead without any provocation. Jehoshaphat quickly consented to go with him without seeking God’s will; but as a King who knew the importance of going to battle with divine back up, he asked Ahab to enquire first from the prophets. Ahab reached out to his professional prophets, four hundred of them, who say what God did not say and prophesy for gain. They all prophesied victory. Jehoshaphat was in doubt and they sought out another unpopular prophet who warned them of danger, he was despised and even imprisoned for speaking the truth.
These were warning signs King Jehoshaphat should have seen but he blindly went on with Ahab. The climax was when Ahab disguised himself and asked Jehoshaphat to dress like a King to the battlefield, it almost cost him his life. All the rage and heat were laser-focused on him in the battlefront while Ahab, the offender had the battle easy.
Review your associations, allegiances, and partnerships before going to battle, some people are already living under a curse or divine judgment, when you partner with them you might be a victim, if not for mercy, King Jehoshaphat would have died another man’s death for nothing. Ahab was already under judgment from God for the evil he had done see I Kings 21:20-24, going to battle with him was very risky.
Beloved in Christ, in spiritual warfare, there are several mysteries not visible to the eyes, we must not go alone into battle no matter how well armed or fortified with scriptures you may be, always inquire of the Lord and confirm who should go with you, lest your friend or brother sets you up.
In conclusion, l leave you with a word of wisdom about spiritual warfare, I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time Ecclesiastic 9:11
We must not leave anything to chance, we must trust in the Lord with all our heart for victory. God has given us victory already by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection, this is sufficient for us. If you do not have an active relationship with him today, you can not assume he will fight for you. Restore your relationship with Jesus now!
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Revelation 12:11
God assures you of victory today if you apply all we have learned from the scriptures. Do not fear, God is on your side, heaven is standing by to defend you at the word of the Lord! Hallelujah.
Prayer: I Praise you, Lord, you are my rock. Train my hands for war and give my fingers skill for battle in Jesus’ name Psalm 144:1!
Roses&Thorns