Evidence

Acts 4:13 ESV  They were astonished, and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Whether in real life or some popular movie scene, every courtroom drama comes to this key moment. That instant when a piece of evidence is introduced that seals the verdict of guilt or innocence, and everyone in the courtroom gasps at the revelation. The evidence has spoken, just as it did for Paul and John.

Consider the context: Peter and John headed toward the temple and encountered a lame man begging for money. Reaching down and looking into his eyes, Peter spoke, “I have no money to give you, but in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” He immediately came to his feet, “walking and leaping and praising God” (Acts 3:8). When a crowd gathered, Peter seized the moment to again preach a gospel message and announce it was Jesus, the one they crucified, that miraculously healed this man who had been crippled since birth. Now the religious leaders were surprised and confused. They looked at Peter and John and immediately saw two facts: they were uneducated, ordinary men, and they had been with Jesus.

There is a significant distinction in the Pharisee’s words: Paul and John had been “with” Jesus. Multitudes had been around Jesus, following him through the hillside and from city to city, but only a handful had been with Jesus. Those who had been around Jesus were fed with the 5000, had witnessed the healing of the blind and the lame, and seen many freed from demonic spirits; but they had not been with Jesus. There are many today who have been around Jesus; they go to church, attend conferences, and maybe even listen to Christian music but have still not been with Jesus. To have a life-altering impact on those around you—our family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors—does not come from being around Jesus but happens effortlessly when we have been with Jesus.

Being with Jesus comes from spending time with him, praying, reading and quietly meditating on the Word, listening to his voice, and understanding what moves him. When we have been with Jesus, our life will reflect Him, and the evidence will speak for itself. The evidence of being with Jesus will be many, but “three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13. Love is what sets those that have been with Jesus apart. John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” When we choose love, we choose forgiveness over contempt, sacrifice over satisfying our own desires, and faithfulness over fear. When we have been with Jesus, we will know “there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life.” John 15:13.

Their faith was further evidence that they had been with Jesus. The faith necessary for Peter to declare, “In the name of Jesus—walk!” did not come from mustering up his own courage and strength or from some motivational speech, but from spending time with Jesus, watching, listening, being empowered by the Holy Spirit, and knowing that apart from Him he could do nothing. Without this faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), and it only comes from spending time with Him.

Hope will always be evidence of our time with Jesus. Confidence, peace, and strength in the midst of life’s most difficult storms. Hebrews 6:19, “We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself.” Living a life filled with hope demands an explanation from those around us.

Start building the evidence of your life. Don’t just spend time around Jesus; spend time with Him!

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

1 Peter 2:16-17 TPT As God’s loving servants, you should live in complete freedom, but never use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Recognize the value of every person and continually show love to every believer. Live your lives with great reverence and in holy awe of God. Honor your rulers.

1 Peter 2:12 NIV Live such good lives among the unbelievers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Titus 2:7-8 TPT Above all, set yourself apart as a model of a life nobly lived. With dignity, demonstrate integrity in all that you teach. Bring a clear, wholesome message that cannot be condemned, and then your critics will be embarrassed, with nothing bad to say about us.

Philippians 2:14-15 TPT Live a cheerful life, without complaining or division among yourselves. For then you will be seen as innocent, faultless, and pure children of God, even though you live in the midst of a brutal and perverse culture. For you will appear among them as shining lights in the world.

James 3:13 NLT If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

Hebrews 13:5 NIV Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.

Philippians 2:1-4 NIV Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Galatians 5:22-24 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

John 14:27 NAS Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 15:4-5 NAS Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Romans 5:2-5 TPT Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory! But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!

Mark 16:20 NIV Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Ephesians 5:8-9 NLT For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.