The Law of Association: by James Lantz

       You probably heard it said, they really are a good person but just got in with the wrong company. Knowingly or unknowingly, we choose our own company. Our choice of who we associate with determines our destination and our outcome. The dictionary’s definition of association is a group of people joined together for one purpose. I am not referring to people that we meet during our work day or even casual acquaintances, but rather, our friends that we join ourselves to. King Jehoshaphat sought the Lord and proclaimed a fast when a great army came against the people of Judah. He prayed and petitioned God to deliver them from the great armies of Moab and the Ammonites, the very people whom God would not let Israel invade when they came out of Egypt. You may recall that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the congregation.   2 Chron. 20:15  And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.  At the Lord’s direction’ through the words of the prophet, singers were appointed to go out ahead of the army, singing praises to God and saying, Praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth forever!  2 Chron. 20:22  And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.  As the account unfolds the enemy soldiers were fallen to the earth dead, and none escaped. The people of Judah were three days in gathering up the spoils, including  riches and precious jewels that were stripped from the fallen soldiers. This king  Jehoshaphat, who believed the prophet, and obeyed the word of the Lord and enjoyed that great victory was referred to as one who did that which is right in the sight of the Lord. This law of association effects us either positively or negatively, depending on who we join with. King Jehoshaphat nearly lost his life in a battle he should never have been involved in. Jehoshaphat was related to wicked King Ahab through marriage. King Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for King Jehoshaphat, persuading him to join him in battle against the King of Syria. Four hundred prophets prophesied success and victory and yet King Jehoshaphat said, is there not here a prophet of the Lord we might inquire of. Micaiah, prophet of the Lord, spoke how he saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd, and the Lord said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace. The King of Syria commanded his captains of the chariots to only fight with the King of Israel. King Ahab had disguised himself and not worn his kingly robes into battle while King Jehoshaphat wore his robes.  2 Chron. 18:31 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 Lord helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.  The King of Israel died that day from an arrow shot at random and by the grace of God King Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem in peace.  2 Chron. 19:2  And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the  ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.   I know my life was spared in a situation I should have never been in. Let us be wiser next time and not put ourselves in a position to suffer needlessly. King Jehoshaphat made another unholy alliance with King Ahab’s wicked son, Ahaziah, in a business venture which resulted in financial loss.   2 Chron. 20:37  Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships  were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.  As I look in the scriptures, I see a pattern of Godly people  who finish out their race in victory staying close to the anointing and walking in wisdom. Noah separated himself from the ungodly and persisted with the work God had given him. Abraham left his kinfolk to follow God’s leading. Abraham kept himself separate from the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah and trained his servants in the way of the Lord. By faith Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ of greater value than the treasures of Egypt. Moses understood that separating himself from Pharaoh’s family was necessary in order to associate with God’s plan and God’s reward. Samuel grew up in the temple and learned the ways of the Lord, spurning the corruption of his day. David sought the Lord and God said he was a man after his own heart. David fell into sin at one point in his life but repented and you never read of him falling in that area again. David kept his association strong with the priests of God. David did not allow liars in his presence. You read of King David inquiring of the Lord before he goes to battle. He never lost a battle setting the stage, for many years of peace, when his son Solomon reigned. Orpah kissed and hugged her mother in law but then returned to her people and her gods. Ruth said to Naomi, your people are my people, and your God is my God, and she followed Naomi back to her people. The prophets of old choose the truth rather than bowing to the pressures of man. Peter said to the Holy Ghost, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. Peter perfectly obeyed God’s law and associated himself with God’s people. Peter’s interpretation of this vision is recorded in Acts.  Acts 10:28  And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. We that have come out from among the gentiles have not been properly taught concerning diet and God accepts us even in our ignorance. Many are finding that God’s dietary laws were set in place for good health and our associating with what God said is our association with good health. Jesus ate butter and honey, not margarine and sugar. I don’t know if you have noticed but God has brought much light to the church lately concerning diet. Regardless if we are saved or unsaved our bodies still need the proper food to operate at peak efficiency. Since our spirit is housed in our body, that means that our bodies are the temples  of the Holy Ghost.  1 Cor. 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.  Our soul (mind, will & emotions) needs to be brought under the Lordship of Jesus.  1 Cor. 2:16 .  .  . But we have the mind of Christ.  This statement is referring to the spiritual man, not the natural or carnal man.  Eph. 4:23  And be renewed  in the spirit of your mind.  Phil. 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  God’s word is God’s wisdom, and when we accept what God has said and joyfully act on it, then we have renewed our mind in that area. We can change our mind in a moment and conform to the will of God. Saul, when he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus, made a quick decision to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, Who are you, Lord?  The next thing Saul said was, What would you like me to do?  A short time later Saul was preaching that Jesus (who he was persecuting) is the Christ! Now we all know that we (the righteous) should not be joined to the wicked (the ones who work against God). Know that what we put into our mouth will either associate us with health or sickness and more importantly what we put in front of our eyes and what we allow into our ears associates us with life or death. The thoughts we hold in our mind will cause us to succeed or to fail. Thoughts meditated on turn into words and then action. Unforgiving thoughts, failure thoughts, hopelessness thoughts, worried thoughts are not your friends. Take the name of Jesus and cast those thoughts out. Replace those thoughts with forgiveness, success, hope and trust. In Christ Jesus we can choose Holy Alliances!

1 Sam. 22:2And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him (David); and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. At the end of King David’s reign we see that those who followed him, and were trained by him had prospered greatly. David’s leaders had learned how to flow with the anointing and give into the work of God just like their leader. (1 Chron. 29: 3 – 8)  Staying connected with God’s anointed ones allows us to learn how to prosper in the anointing. Do not judge where you are as how it has to be. The anointing causes the blessing of God to come on us.