Living With Evidence
Steve Sampson

Do you remember the slogan, "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to
convict you?"

The longer I live, the less I am impressed with words, and the more I look for evidence of a lifestyle. Jesus said you
will know the tree by the fruit(evidence). Even John the Baptist rebuked the Pharisees, telling them to bring forth
fuit, "bear fruits worthy of repentance." Mt. 3:8

When Peter and John were arrested after God healed the crippled man, the people saw even more evidence in
their lives. "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and
untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that's they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had
been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it." Acts 4:13-14

The strategy from hell against the church is for us to be tied into a belief system rather than a lifestyle. This gospel
is not about going to church, it is about being the church! It is not about hearing sermons or attending meetings, it
is about touching lives. We are to be committed to truth, not just in verbal agreement, but in a life style! Attending
church, hearing sermons means nothing unless something changes within us and there is evidence of lives being
changed around us. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father
in Heaven." Matthew 5:16

Peter was continually rebuked and corrected by Jesus, yet at the end of three short years so powerful was the glory
of God in him that anyone under his shadow would be healed. "So that they brought the sick out into the streets and
laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them." Acts
5:15 The only Bible the majority of people will read is you. Paul declared, "You are our epistle written in our hearts,
known and read by all men." II Corinthians 3:2

Belief System or a Life Style?

Many churches claim to believe the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit, yet if you
attend them there is absolutely NO EVIDENCE of the gifts of the Holy Spirit being manifested.

When young David came to the battle lines and heard the spewings of Goliathe, he was appalled and desired to
be the man to conquer him. When he was brought before Saul, the king commented that he was only a youth and
the other men had been fighting since their youth. But David had a resume! "Your servant used to keep his father's
sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went after it and struck it, and delivered
the lamb from it's mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck it and killed it." I Sam.
17:34-35

David had evidence in his life! He had dealt with lions and bears on a personal level and now was ready to defeat
Goliathe. Lions can represent those things in us, such as rebellion, stubbornness, lust and anger. Bears can
represent habits, discouragement, fear, and unbelief. Before we conquer huge enemies, God wants us to have
evidence that we have dealt with the personal ones.

The bottom line is that there must be evidence in our lives that we are yielding to the King of Kings and Lord of
lords. Paul declared, " You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men." Unbelievers do not
read the Bible, they read us! Is their evidence in your life for them to see? This world needs to see evidence of the
power of God in our lives and the character of God(the fruit of the Spirit). God's light must shine through us as
evidence. " For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shown in our hearts, to give the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." II Cor. 4:6

This gospel has to become more than mere talk. People must see the power and nature of God in us. " Let us not
love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." I Jn. 3:18