WHAT COMPANY ARE YOU KEEPING?

Beloved,
I start on the battle of containment last week taking our cue from the parable of the sower. I will continue on that in due course.

Todays scripture: And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? Numbers 22:9 

We are defined by the company we keep because they mould our thoughts and character. You might claim spiritual maturity, but God cannot lie. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners (1 Corinthians 15:33). This was the reason Jesus did not give himself to any man because he knew the heart of men (John 2:24-25). In our time when men have exalted organization more than the worship of God, it is vital that every one of us looks very well before we leap. I mean identity has taken the place of obedience to God, and so people get entangled in places they have no business in, if they have bothered to ask God. I was in a church sometime ago, and I heard the Spirit of God tell me clearly “what are you doing here? You do not belong here”. From then on, I knew that it is not every place that I belong.

So when God spoke clearly to Balaam, “what men are these with thee?” It was not because God did not want him to enjoy a good company, it was because God knew  those men will lead him astray. Later on we found out that they eventually made him to become lower than a donkey, to the extent that God would rather speak to a donkey, than speak to Balaam. The question is, what company are you keeping? The company you have been keeping might be the cause of your problems. See they might not be unbelievers. They might be tongue talking, but not everybody should be your friend. The company you keep determine what you hear, what your vision could be and what happens to you.

God wanted to reach Abraham, but could not reach him among his king folks. So God told him “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing” (Genesis 12:1-2). Note that God could not bless him where he was. Now Abram decided he knew more than God, and took Lot along. Not only did he have a lot of strife, God did not speak to him again until Lot was departed from him. Here: "And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him. Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward." (Genesis 13:14). So Abram in the company of Lot could not hear God and could not see well. Friend, the company you are keeping for whatever reason is probably separating you from a closer fellowship with God.  See, I am not talking about sin. You cannot pray your way out of it. This was why Jesus said, “Take ye heed: watch and pray” (Mark 13:33). There is a time to watch, and a time to pray. I found out a few days ago that the greatest heed or watchfulness is on myself. I guess that applies to everyone.

There are some very good company. I think we should be attentive to identify and cherish them. Saul began to prophesy when he came in the mist of prophets (1 Samuel 10:10), and never prophesied again after he left that company. Hear what Laban said to Jacob, "I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake (Genesis 30:27). Thus Laban knew there was a reason for his blessings. In our present world, where we celebrate pride, a lot of people would rather not identify that someone is a blessing on their life.  The woman in Luke 13: 11-15, was already free by the covenant Abraham had with God, but she needed contact with the messenger of the covenant, to experience the freedom. We need a good understanding!

Let’s look at this interesting Egyptian, they call him Potiphar.  "And his master (Potiphar) saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.  And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand." (Genesis 39:3-4). This guy was watchful. He saw that whatever Joseph touched prospered. How many of us take notice? See the frustration in the voice of God “Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not” (Isaiah 42:19-20). Did you read that? I also think that at times we act blind, because we are so full of ourselves. We see people that are blessings to us but intentionally short-circuit them and act big. This was not what Potiphar did. He handed over everything into the hand of Joseph. Is this what happens in our churches today? People are carefully maneuvered out when it is noticed that there is manifestation of God in their lives.

So the question is; who are those people in your house? What company are you keeping?  The truth is; there are people you should look for and others you should consciously run away from. No matter the level you are now, you need something to be added to your life, and God has made available those channels.
The choice is yours but each choice has its own implications.

Confession: In this new month, you shall recover all that the enemy has stolen from you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen

By Brother Godwin