21 John 2:15 - Making Worldly Alliances

Before World War 1, All the major powers were making Alliances with each other.  Germany wanted more territory so it made an alliance with the Austria Hungary.  So when either one was attack they would come to each others aid.  Britain and France saw their security was threatened so they allied themselves with Russia.  Later the Ottoman empire allied itself with Germany to protect itself from Russia.  Historians tell us that what started World War 1 was the alliances.  

Israel did the same thing in the Old testament with Solomon.  He married many foreign women to keep his enemies at bay.  Israel also did this during the time of Joshua when they allied themselves with the Gibeonites.  In the book of Nahum, Judah was rebuked by the Lord because of the alliances they had made with the ungodly countries around them.  

1.  Today many Christians knowingly or unknowingly make alliances with the three major foes of their Christian life.

 a.  We ally ourselves with the world.  The spirit of the age.  Lust of the flesh, many people try to fulfill their lives through pleasure and happiness.  There is a difference between joy and happiness.  Happiness has to do with the emotions where joy is deep seated contentment because your faith and future are in the hand of God.  Physical pleasure is the highest goal for those who allied themselves with this spirit.

b.  Lust of the eyes is plain materialism.  Things will never satisfy.  Poverty is not the number one enemy of the church but prosperity.  Lemuel who wrote Prov 30-31 said that our prayer that we should is that we have enough so we will not become thieves or prideful.

c.  Pride of life is man is the measure of all things.   Man does need God and we wallow in our own accomplishments.  

2.  The next foe is the flesh which is the innate principal in us that leads us to rebel against God.  Pride is its main feature.  We make alliances here because it is easy to do.  We look at others with all they have and we fall into envy which leads us to rebellion and sin.

3.  The devil, he knows exactly where to tempt, accuse and deceive to make you either fall or make an alliance with him to leave you alone.  Remember though the devil's agenda is simple.  He comes to rob, kill and destroy.  Bad alliances only lead to destruction.

4.  Our alliance must be with God.  He is the author and finisher of our faith.  He will give you the wisdom, power, anointing and authority to beat the three uglies.  The Bible says that with God for you, who can be against you.  Amen.

a.  He has given you the armor, the weapons and power for warfare.  Alliances will always bring warfare whether spiritual or physical.  You will win or lose it just depends on who you ally yourself with.

b.  With satan, the world and the flesh, you will have defeat and hurt.

c.  With God will will have victory, peace, joy and love.  The problem is the church in the 21st century has compromised and been faithless.  We have been hurt by this.  

You can be a winner or loser it just depends who you ally yourself with.  I trust it will be with the Lord.