With Him — Not Just Around Him Teaching Summary This message centers on the transformative power of faith rooted in the unshakable promises of God, drawing from 1 Peter 1:3–9 and key passages in Matthew to emphasize that genuine faith, though tested by trials, produces a joy that is inexpressible and full of glory. It underscores that true discipleship involves being not merely present with Christ but actively united to Him through faith, which is cultivated by hearing and obeying His Word, not by human effort or understanding. The preacher warns against the danger of being 'with' Christ yet not truly 'with' Him—operating in fear, doubt, and misunderstanding due to misplaced focus on earthly needs rather than divine purpose—illustrating this through the disciples' failure to grasp Jesus' teaching about the leaven of the Pharisees. The solution is a life of surrender, where believers seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that He will provide for all needs, thereby experiencing peace, spiritual growth, and a deepening love for Christ that grows sweeter with time. Ultimately, the message calls for a daily yoking to Jesus, where faith, obedience, and reliance on His grace lead to a life marked by joy, clarity, and divine intimacy. Main Truth: 1 Peter 1:3–9; Matthew 6:30–33; Matthew 8:23–27; Matthew 14:27–31; Matthew 16:5–12; Matthew 11:28–30 Central Truth: A believer is not called merely to be around Jesus, but to walk with Jesus by faith. Little faith produces doubt, fear, worry, and misunderstanding, but growing faith rejoices in Christ, trusts His Word, receives His correction, and rests under His yoke. Key Statement: Do not just be with Him outwardly and miss Him i