I’D RATHER HAVE JESUS!
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord , choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Are you with Jesus? If there is one enemy in this life I don’t want to have, it is definitely the God of Heaven. Also, if there is ONE friend I know that I truly need in this life and the life to come it is absolutely Jesus my Savior. These verses leave us with one question, are we a friend or enemy of God? It’s safe in saying that Jesus didn’t have a lot of friends but HE sure had a lot of enemies? In our text we get a glimpse as to why. Some enemies of Jesus are more obvious than others. We usually think of those who are enemies of Jesus as being outspoken against the Gospel, attacking and persecuting other Christians, or spreading a contrary Gospel. Jesus tells us that if we are not with HIM then we are against HIM. The word “with” that is used here, gives the idea to be along-side of, hand in hand with, agreeing with or serving the same purpose. If we are not with HIM we are against HIM! Against means going your own way, serving your own interests.
When we make our own decisions, not taking the time to consult with the Lord, we are not WITH HIM. When we take the path we want then we are not WITH HIM. When we are living for those things that interest us we are not WITH HIM. When these attitudes are present in our lives then we are counted as one who is striving against the Lord. There is a union missing on some level of our walk and obedience. You cannot be WITH Jesus and go your own way! Independence of Jesus draws the battle line, you on one side and HE on the other. This is a very scary and dangerous place to be.
Jesus also tells us above that the one who does not gather with HIM, (scatters). The word scatters means to live impulsively, to jump from one thing to another, a person who is unstable. How easy it is to scatter rather than gather when living in a world that has so many temptations of the flesh. Everything carnal in this world sparkles and glitters appealing to the body and our flesh to dive right in and worry about the consequences later. Gathering with Jesus is purposeful, intentional living, never through impulsive decisions or out of emotional moments. It is a decision that is made with forethought and commitment unto the end. It’s a choice of obedience unto the leading of the Holy Spirit and a heartfelt following of Jesus no matter where HE may lead us.
We live in a very impulsive generation, in a world driven by the desires of the flesh. We want things our way on our timetable for ourselves. We do not place the Lord’s interests ahead of our own, in doing so we put what God is asking us to do on the shelf for a more convenient time, or a more comfortable time in our life. Our flesh will never be a friend of the Lord and it will never seek HIS way by faith. Maybe you are struggling today with what the Lord wants verses what you want; or your way over HIS way. If this is you, then I say as the Lord would say, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve”. We cannot serve two masters and dwell in peace in the valley of decision.
With all that is within me, I want to be found standing side by side with Jesus! My hand in HIS, with my hands to the old Gospel plow working the fields of HIS harvest. My Christian friend, lift not your eyes to worldly pleasures but set your affections on things above and when you meet Jesus face to face you will be so glad you were HIS friend and not HIS enemy. I pray that when you stand before the Lord you will be found clean, unpopular, not self-seeking, selfless, unknown and unsuccessful in the world’s eyes; empty handed and poured out unto the work of the Lord. Are you a friend to Jesus or are you HIS enemy? I have seen all the world has to offer and with every ounce of my being I declare unto you…
I’D RATHER HAVE JESUS!!! Hallelujah!
Bro. Lawrence Longworth
Isaiah 61:1 “the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
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