If you not with me, you against me

Times are demanding that people make up their minds. Decisions must be firm and clear. Life is calling upon us to confront individuals and demand that they pick a side. Many are flip-flopping, staggering as 1 Kings 18:21 says, “How long halt ye between two opinions?” There are too many on the fence when it comes to supporting you. It's time to look them square in the eyes and say, “If you not with me, you’re against me.”

Some will claim they are down for you, but in reality, they are there for selfish reasons. As long as everything goes their way, as long as there are no rocky grounds or troubles to endure, they stick around. But let things start going awry—let a little rain fall, the wind blow, and waves roar against the ship of life—and they are no longer with you. Their love for you quickly fades, and they disappear.

I’m here to tell you, the people you think are with you are often really against you. They may smile in your face and speak words of support, but their actions reveal their true intentions. You need to discern who is truly with you and who is simply along for the ride.

It’s time to draw a line in the sand. It’s time to decide who belongs in your circle and who needs to be shown the door. Surround yourself with those who will stand by you through thick and thin, those who will weather the storms with you and stay true no matter what.

Remember, it’s better to have a few true allies than a crowd of fair-weather friends.

Yahuah (God) is calling you to be strong and resolute, to demand loyalty and truth from those around you. So, stand firm, be courageous, and know that with Yahuah (God) on your side, you will prevail.

As Joshua 24:15 says, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." Make your choice and stand by it, unwavering and bold. For in these demanding times, a steadfast heart and loyal companions are your greatest assets.

Yahusha (Jesus) in the scriptures gives us this startling reality and strengthens us to make a declaration that demands people pick a side. He said, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad” (Matthew 12:30 KJV). Here, He eliminates the thought of a middle ground. He points out that there is no such thing as being neutral. There are no grey areas.

There are so many people who lack the boldness to stand by their decisions. They fear the outcome of deciding and choosing, so they try to stay neutral. But Yahusha (Jesus) makes it clear in this text that it’s impossible to stay neutral. It’s impossible to play the middle ground or straddle the fence. There are only two sides to pick from, and you must pick a side.

From this one powerful verse, we can extract three crucial elements that help us navigate life effectively. Let's focus on these three words: Ally, Against, and Actions.

I. Ally

“He that is not with me” points out that there are some people in life who will be your allies. An ally is someone who stands with you as a helper, aligning themselves with you in friendship and support. This relationship is mutually beneficial.

We often spend a lot of time searching for friends, which is understandable. However, Yahusha (Jesus) teaches us that we need more than just friends; we need allies. True friendship comes with being an ally, meaning the relationship is mutual and beneficial to both parties.

Some people who claim to be your friends don't show they are allies. An ally will support you, pray for you, come to your aid, join in battle with you, go to war for you, and put themselves in harm's way if necessary. Yahusha (Jesus) further established this concept of friendship as being an ally by saying, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 KJV).

Who is truly standing with you? Who is committed to your journey, supporting you through thick and thin? These are your allies. They don’t waver or disappear when times get tough. They are steadfast, reliable, and loyal.

II. Against

“He that is not with me is against me.” Yahusha (Jesus) points out that people can be right there with you, yet still be against you. "Against" means in opposition; it also means to anticipate and prepare for a problem or difficulty. The more astounding concept of this reality is that Yahusha (Jesus) looks at them as friends and is willing to be their ally, but they are against Him.

They were against Him because they were not in favor of what He was doing. Their hostility, their desire to see Him fall, to see Him lose, and to see Him taken out shows that they were against Him. This is the defining moment for identifying those who are against you. If they don’t want to see you blessed, or if they are jealous of what Yahuah (God) is doing in your life, then they are against you and not for you. It doesn’t matter how long you have known a person or if they are family; if they have any type of malicious intent, try to downplay anything in your life, or bring negativity instead of support, then they are against you.

I know the saying goes that blood is thicker than water, and scientifically, that's true. But this is not true when dealing with family. Yahusha (Jesus) said that your own enemies will be of your household. Matthew 10:34-36 says, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”

Again, recognize those who are not for you. They may pretend to be allies, but their actions reveal their true intentions. They sow discord, create obstacles, and ultimately, they are against you. It's essential to identify these individuals and distance yourself from them.

III. Actions

“He that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Yahusha (Jesus) teaches us to discern allies from adversaries by observing their actions. Actions speak louder than words. To gather implies collaboration towards a common goal for mutual benefit, while scattering signifies driving apart or hindering progress.

Yahusha (Jesus) urges us to discern people by their actions; those who add value to your life are true allies. They stand beside you, supporting your endeavors and sharing in your successes. Conversely, those who drain you, constantly taking without giving back, are against you.

True allies actively participate in your journey, offering help and encouragement. They work alongside you, contributing to your growth and well-being. In contrast, those who passively watch or criticize from a distance reveal their opposition.

Actions reveal true intentions. Pay attention not only to what people say but also to what they do. Genuine allies consistently demonstrate their loyalty through supportive actions, while adversaries eventually expose themselves through neglect or selfishness.

In these challenging times, Yahusha’s (Jesus) words echo loudly: “If you not with me, you’re against me.” This statement demands clarity and resolve from each of us. Indecision and neutrality have no place when it comes to supporting what is right and true. As 1 Kings 18:21 challenges us, “How long halt ye between two opinions?” It’s time to choose.

Many claim allegiance but falter when adversity strikes, revealing their true intentions. The journey of life requires allies—those who stand with us, who uplift and support us through every storm. These allies exemplify Yahusha’s (Jesus) teachings, willing to lay down their lives for one another, as true love and loyalty demand.

Conversely, there are those who, though they may appear supportive, harbor jealousy or ill will. They scatter rather than gather, hindering progress and causing division. Yahusha (Jesus) warns us to discern such individuals, for they can pose as friends while working against us.

As we navigate relationships, let us heed Yahusha’s (Jesus) wisdom to discern allies by their actions. True allies enrich our lives, sharing in our joys and burdens with unwavering support. They embody love through their actions, standing by us in every trial.

Let us draw strength from Yahusha’s (Jesus) teachings to build a circle of genuine allies, for they are our pillars in times of need. By choosing wisely and discerning with clarity, we honor His call to stand firm and resolute in faith.

As we depart today, may we carry these words in our hearts: to seek allies who gather with us, to recognize those against us, and to judge by actions rather than words. In doing so, we uphold Yahusha’s (Jesus) commandment to love one another as He has loved us.