After Jesus was baptized in water and John the Baptist was put in prison, Jesus began His public ministry.
Mark 1:16-20 NKJV And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.
During these early days of ministry, Jesus went into various synagogues and taught. In Nazareth, He took the scroll of Isaiah the prophet and read a section from Isaiah 61.
Luke 4:18-19 NKJV “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
In one of those Sabbath Day meetings when Jesus was teaching, a man with an unclean spirit was in the synagogue.
The unclean spirit cried out against Jesus and said, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24-28) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” Then the unclean spirit came out of him.
Those days were the initiation of the disciples walking with Jesus.
- What we observe shows us what it is like walking with Jesus.
- Read the Gospels and see what it is like walking with Him.
- Watch how Jesus impacts and changes life’s situations.
What is it like when we are identified with Jesus and walk with Him?
You should know that Jesus faced life with positive faith. He was never taken by surprise or caught off guard. He never wavered in His faith in the Father. Nothing was too large or difficult for Him. He always had answers for life’s situations.
What is it like walking with Jesus?
He walked in power and great authority. He walked with the full power of the Spirit of God upon Him. He walked in full communion with the Father. He demonstrated God’s love and compassion.
How did that impact life’s situations?
Watch what He did as He walked this earth. Notice His miracles, signs, and wonders. Notice His power over Satan, demons, death, and sickness. Notice His authority over the wind, waves, and the natural course of events.
How does this change our circumstances?
Those who walked with Jesus were impacted by where He went, what He did, and what He said. It was impossible to be in the presence of Jesus Christ and not be changed. We can see this in the transition that took place in those who walked with Jesus.
How does it change our attitudes?
Jesus constantly demonstrated love and compassion. His love and compassion changed His disciples who closely walked with Him.
Isaiah the prophet was given great insight into the change that occurs when we are identified with Christ and walk with Him.
Isaiah 43:1-3 NIV But now, this is what the Lord says— He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah states this as a Divine absolute.
God is saying, “I will do this.” He is addressing the most critical issues of our lives with this Divine certainty. He is sowing the answer to life’s greatest challenges or need.
We are looking at the benefits of walking with Jesus.
Isaiah described a special relationship of the redeemed of the Lord.
- He said God has formed, created, and given you life.
- He encourages us to walk with Him without fear.
- He has redeemed you.
- He has summoned you by your name.
- He said, “You are mine.”
- He has identified you with His Son.
- He has claimed you for Himself and you are His.
Isaiah then says that no kind of situation in life would hinder your Savior’s success. He describes multiple situations in life.
- He will be with you when you pass through waters.
- Rivers will not sweep over you.
- Fire will not burn you.
These appear to be severe testing and trying situations. When life brings you into severe tests, your Savior said: “I will be with you and will not fail you.”
Why? Because He is your God and Savior!
Isaiah 43:10-11 NIV “Youare My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.”
This is God’s personal message to everyone who puts their trust in Him.
The Lord declares “You are My witnesses.”
Almighty God wants you to be His witnesses. He wants you to represent Him as you go through life’s situations. This is the purpose behind God identifying us with His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been called out to testify and demonstrate to all of God’s creation, what God is like.
Part of the reason behind the water, flood, and fire is this testimony of our Savior.
God wants to demonstrate Who He is and what He is like through us. God has put His name, character, and reputation on the line with you. God wants all of creation to know that He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to Him by Christ Jesus. He is holding us up before humanity and the spirit world. God is saying this to all of the hosts of heaven. He is saying this to every principality and power of darkness.
Jesus chose His disciples to bear witness of His actions.
They were chosen to be a witness of the truth. They not only saw His glory, they were called to fellowship with the Lord of glory.
Listen to Simon Peter’s declaration about Jesus.
2 Peter 1:16-17 NIV We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”
John had a similar witness about the Christ.
1 John 1:1-4 NIV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.
When the disciples walked with Jesus, they beheld His glory. His glory was presented in the signs, wonders, and miracles that He did. His glory was revealed in His word and His works.
As we walk with Jesus, God wants to demonstrate His glory, majesty, and power through our lives.
How will He reveal Himself through us?
Jesus gave His disciples authority to represent Him by using His name. He said, “Use my name to heal the sick and cast out devils.”
John 14:13-16 NIV And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.
John 16:23 NIV In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. I tell you the truth, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.
When we use His name, we are identifying with Jesus.
You need to know and use His name! His glory is revealed through many names and titles.
- • He is Savior, Redeemer, and Lord.
- • He is the Holy Spirit Baptizer.
- • He is Healer, Supplier, and Protector.
- • He is Shield, Sword, and Shepherd.
- • He is Keeper, Helper, and Deliverer.
- • He is Author, Creator, and Master.
We are given these titles and names so we know Who He is. He gives us His name to secure us. The Lord wants us to know Him. He wants us to know Him in His fullness and power.
As we walk with Jesus through varied circumstances of life, God will demonstrate His glory, majesty and power through us.
- When you go through the water… He will be with you.
- When you go through the flood… They will not sweep over you.
- When you go through the fire… You will not be burned.
You need to know the power of the One you are walking with.
God is faithful who has called you into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
How does God intend to demonstrate, testify, and witness His power, grace, mercy, favor, and love?
God has chosen us as instruments to demonstrate who He is and what He does. We are in a marvelous relationship of victory, glory, and power in Christ Jesus. As we walk with Jesus Christ, we will be changed.
2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
As we walk with Jesus, we are made to be the living demonstration of who He is, by what He does in us. We cannot walk with Jesus without being changed. His glory will be revealed in us.
Isaiah 62:3 NKJV You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem In the hand of your God.
That is God’s plan for your life. He wants to make you a living testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is for that reason that we present ourselves wholly to Him.
Romans 6:12-13 NKJV Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
God is prepared to do great things in every one of us. Since you have been identified with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, resurrection and glory, God wants to demonstrate His conquest in your lives. God has not called you to weakness, but strength in the Lord. He has not called us to defeat, but to victory. He has not called us to destruction, but to newness of life in the Lord Jesus Christ. As you identify with what Jesus does for you, let the Holy Spirit work to conform you into Christ’s image and victory. God is prepared to make you a living testimony of the resurrection, victory and liberty of Christ. We are called out to press past the gates of hell, capture the lost and demonstrate the glory of God that is in Christ.
