Am I Walking in Faith? - Acts 12

When we walk by faith sharing our lives with those around us, we know that God goes with us guiding, protecting and directing the affairs of our lives.

The persecution against the believers was growing in Acts 12 to the point that James the brother of John was taken by Herod and put to death.  Herod’s next target was Peter who he captured and placed in prison.

James and Peter had no fear concerning what the future held for them.  They lived in the moment just being themselves witnessing to everyone about the life of Jesus and his impact on their lives. 

The disciples were merely common men that Jesus had transformed over a short period of three years.  They were no longer invisible people who lived for themselves catching fish; rather, they were filled with the Spirit and citizens of the Kingdom of God who were boldly proclaiming the grace of God which had changed their lives.

The disciples of Jesus are called to put to death the desires of the flesh and to live a life of love in the Spirit.  We are now citizens of the Kingdom of God experiencing the love of God, being filled with the Holy Spirit and sharing our lives with people who are lost, hopeless and blind.

Peter found himself in prison because he was sharing his life and testimony with others.  While in prison, the saints were in prayer for him and the angel of the Lord showed up to release Peter.  Peter not really knowing what was going on followed the angel out of the prison into the streets.  When Peter realized what had taken place, he went to the home of a member of the church and knocked on the door.

Everyone was in prayer when Peter showed up and knocked on the door.  Rhoda went to the door and heard the voice of Peter.  In her excitement, she forgot to open the door and ran to tell the others so they could all witness the miracle of God together.  Rhoda was overflowing with faith.  When the members went to the door, they were astonished to see Peter.

Luke then records that King Herod who had killed James was then struck by the Lord after accepting the praise of men as a ‘god’

Acts 12: “²¹ So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.²² And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” ²³ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

The point of recording the death of Herod as well as the deliverance by an angel was to increase our faith.  The story about the work of God in the life of Peter and James became an event in their life that they could share with their friends and neighbors.  

Our hope is in Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith being the one true God.  We share our lives with those around us telling them what God is doing in our lives with great boldness.  Jesus is doing something special in the lives of all of his children which we can share with those around us.