Reading the book of acts and the subsequent epistles show just how great the faith of the twelve Apostles truly was. They performed mighty miracles, preached the name of Jesus without fear of those who wanted their heads, and so much more. But they didn’t start out with this kind of extreme faith. Many of them had previously been just simple fishermen. So how did this unlikely bunch become the great men of God we now think of? And can we obtain the same great faith they had today?
Pointing to their time spent with Jesus would be one possibility of how they grew in faith. And that definitely played a large role in building the faith of the Apostles. But it was not the major faith-building point in their life. Because even after all the miraculous things they were present to witness Jesus doing. They would still question, doubt, and even later deny Jesus. Jesus even questioned their faith a few times while He was still with them.
Matthew 26:56 (ESV)
56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
John 18:25-27 (ESV)
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
Matthew 28:17 (ESV)
17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
Matthew 16:8-9 (ESV)
8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive it? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
Spending time with Jesus definitely helped to build their faith to an extent. But as long as they were still being lead by the flesh they would not be able to obtain the deep level of faith we seem them exhibit later in life. There is one day that we can point to that forever changed the faith of the Apostles. Taking them from only having little faith to having the great faith we see them to display in Acts. That being the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost fell in the upper room and God’s spirit began to reside in each of them.
Acts 2:3-4 (ESV)
3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
It was at this point that we see a direct change in how the Apostles respond to every situation. No longer do they deny knowing Jesus or scatter when things get tough. Instead, they preach boldly even with threats coming in from every direction. We even see that they understand much of Jesus’s teachings as they never did before. Because they no longer allowed their flesh to lead them. Because they had the Holy Ghost to lead them in all their ways.
John 12:16 (ESV)
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.
John 14:26 (ESV)
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
We know for a fact that it was the Holy Spirit that empowered the disciples to have such bold faith. Due to the fact that we read in Acts chapter four of when the Apostles came together to pray after Peter and John had been threatened by the synagogue leaders. They asked God to help them to speak boldly. God responds to the request by causing the Holy Ghost to fall on them once again. And the Bible says they did continue to preach boldly.
Acts 4:29-31 (ESV)
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Before Jesus ascended into Heaven He even told the disples that they would do the very things we read about them doing. But only after the Holy Ghost had come upon them. Because in reality, no human is able to do such great acts of faith without God’s spirit.
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
In fact, the Bible tells us of multiple ways in which the Holy Spirit will affect the life of an individual. Showing that much of what the Apostoles did was not just done by their own accord. But because they were yielding themselves to the spirit and allowed God to work in their life.
Mark 13:11 (ESV)
11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:26-27 (ESV)
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Isaiah 11:2 (ESV)
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
It was the infilling of the Holy Ghost that took a group of simple men and turned them into great men of God. Which answers our first question of how they came to have such great faith. But that still leaves our second question unanswered. Can still we obtain this same kind of faith today? Well, the same day that Peter received the Holy Spirit he laid out the plan of salvation. In which he states that after repentance and baptism you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So I must ask you the same question Paul asked the disciples of John. Have you received the gift of the Holy Ghost since you believed? The Spirit of God that takes faith from a simple belief to something with the power to move mountains?
Acts 19:2 (ESV)
2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
This is not receiving the Holy Ghost in a way that you simply think you have it. Only because you believe in God or were Baptized. When receiving the Holy Ghost is mentioned in scripture it comes with a sign. Something that makes it clear to the recipient and everyone around that they truly received the glorious gift of God’s spirit.
Acts 2:4 (ESV)
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 10:45-46 (ESV)
45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
Acts 19:6 (ESV)
6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
If you now see your need to receive the Holy Ghost then please read one of our other articles on the subject. They go into more detail then we are able to in this article. Also, feel free to contact us by email at [email protected]. So we can put you in touch with an Apostolic Church in your area that will assist you in receiving the great gift of God’s spirit.
All people today can have the same kind of faith that the Apostles had. If they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit that brings on true faith. Thanks so much for reading if you enjoyed this article please share it. So we can continue to broaden our audience and reach more and more people with the Scripture. Thanks and God Bless!
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