Fact: evidence, proof, reality, or truth. Faith: the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Herod the king was troubling church…killing James the brother of John with the sword. “…he had arrested Peter, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him…Peter was therefore kept in prison, but CONSTANT PRAYER was offered to God for him by the church.” (Acts 12:4-5) I’m sure their prayer was “God deliver Peter from the prison!”
“Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands… And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Now PETER CONTINUED KNOCKING; AND WHEN THEY OPENED THE DOOR AND SAW HIM, THEY WERE ASTONISHED.” (Acts 12:13-16)
Isn’t this what they were praying for? We must learn to BELIEVE GOD AND TRUST HIM! “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding (ability to reason); In ALL YOUR WAYS acknowledge (yada`: to know by experience) Him, And He shall DIRECT YOUR PATHS.” (Prov. 3:5-6) That is why Jesus said to us, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may HAVE LIFE, and that they may HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY.” (John 10:10) Abundant, perissos: superabundant, superior in quality.
JESUS GIVES US A SUPERABUNDANTLY QUALITY OF LIFE…
-Bill Stockham