“Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Lk 8:1-2
Jesus was with the disciples and others implies the disciples were with Jesus. Man is a social animal. Man abhors isolation. That is why we have friends, date people, get married, bear children, travel long distances by road, sea, rail or air to stay with people or do business with them! It is the reason why the lockdown, quarantines, isolation that began in 2020 is not just painful and wasteful but it’s leading to so many breakdowns.
The question the Holy Spirit is asking is who is with you or who are you with? In the journey of life who enters your life or exits matters. There are four categories of people: those who add, multiply, subtract or divide. Laban said the presence of Jacob in his life added value to him and his business greatly. God said to Abraham subtract Lot from yourself to have your lot in life. Hagar the Egyptian girl divided Sarah and Abraham when she got pregnant for Abraham. The butler multiplied the life of Joseph the day he remembered how Joseph had interpreted his dream when they were in prison. The butler catapulted Joseph from prison to the palace.
The bible is full of such people of influence and character. Saul’s assistant was the one that led him to Samuel which led to his exaltation, to becoming a king. The slave girl in Naaman’s house helped to heal him of leprosy. Mordecai’s presence in the life of Esther made a way for her to become a queen in a land where she was an immigrant.
The presence of Jesus in the life of ordinary men, tax collectors, fishermen, farmers and peasants transformed them from ordinary men to extraordinary men. The presence of Jesus transformed them from “nobodies” to “Mr. Somebody.” The presence of Jesus transformed those men from commoners to men of influence. They became his disciples and later apostles. They became miracle workers. From fishing ordinary tilapia and salmon, they were fishing for souls of men. People who struggled all night and could not catch catfish were catching 3000 souls rescuing them from eternal fire with Satan to eternal paradise with God.
What is the Holy Spirit saying this morning? choose wisely who you want to be with, for that can determine your prosperity or perdition.
Choose wisely who to marry, be sure the person is with Jesus, if he or she is not with Jesus don’t go there. Find out who to do business with, if he or she is not with Jesus don’t go there. So if you are asking me how do I choose who to be with, the answer is simple - find out if the person is with Jesus or wants to be with Jesus. Jesus is the determining factor.
Jesus has power to multiply your life a thousand times over. Jesus has power to add value to your life.
Most importantly Jesus has power to subtract from your life unwanted elements, demons, sickness, diseases, poverty, and even death as he did for Lazarus. For example he subtracted a legion ( 6,000 demons) from the man of Gadera. “This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Mk 5:3-8.
The question is how can you be with Jesus? Wherever you are simply say “Jesus I acknowledge my sins, I am sorry for them. I know you are the savour of mankind because of your death on the cross and resurrection. I invite you into my life today. Write my name in the book of life” Done. Find a bible believing church and worship God faithfully. Ensure you read your bible daily and pray regularly. Testify, share and witness to others what God has done for you.”
Conclusion: The disciples were with Jesus and their lives were transformed in an unimaginable way. They themselves became miracle workers and life transformers, just the shadows of Peter healed people, at his command lame men stood up, thousands got saved.
The greatest news and juiciest part of it is that Jesus is still alive, does not discriminate in terms of race, gender,religion, status or social stratification and He is more than willing to be with you, if you choose to be with him.
Jesus is the saviour and helper of humanity. Be with Jesus this year he will not only orchestrate your prosperity, engineer you good health, sustain your successes, he will help you to make the necessary impact and transformation in your generation. Remember it is your year to discover and recover.
Shalom
