Fact: evidence, proof, reality, or truth. Faith: the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen. Herod the king was troubling the church…killing James the brother of John with the sword. “…intended to bring him [Peter] out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but THE CHURCH WAS EARNESTLY PRAYING TO GOD FOR HIM.” (Acts 12:4-5) I’m sure their prayer was “God deliver Peter from the prison! So, the angel of the Lord did just that.” “Peter knocked…a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door…she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, and WHEN THEY OPENED THE DOOR AND SAW HIM, THEY WERE ASTONISHED.” (Acts 12:13-16) We must learn to believe God and trust Him! “Trust in the LORD with all our heart; and lean not unto our own understanding [ability to reason]. In all our ways acknowledge [recognize] Him, and HE SHALL DIRECT OUR PATHS.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Remember Satan’s first words: “Did God really say…” Eve listened, and our bodies and spirits were lost to the devil even though Jesus redeemed us [bought us back] – Body and Spirit! The devil is still singing the same old song! “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN; YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20) What about our will? We must will ourselves to trust! “…I say unto you, TAKE NO THOUGHT for your life, what you shall eat…drink…what you shall put on… for your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.” (Matt. 6:25:32-33)
HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US…
-Bill Stockham