Every time I read the book of Acts I am absolutely blown away with the faith displayed by the Apostles. Every chapter contains some action requiring more faith than most Christians could muster on their best day. Let alone facing the kind of persecution the first Church faced every day.
Faith To Fix
Acts 3:6–7 (ESV)
6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Talk about mind blowing faith! These few verses show just how faithful the book of Acts church was. While many Christians today barely have the faith to pray for someone with the sniffles to be healed. Peter is telling a man lame from birth to rise and walk. And the man actually does!
In fact the man did not just get up and walk. He leaped to his feet. Then continued to walk around jumping and praising God. All because a couple of men had faith that what Jesus said about the possibility of healing was true.
Acts 3:8–9 (ESV)
8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
Acts of Boldness
After healing the man mentioned above Peter and John began to preach the Gospel to the crowd that formed. With the former lame standing with them as a testimony to the power available through Jesus name. This as one can imagine did not sit well with the Pharisees. Which lead to Peter and John being thrown in prison and threatened.
Acts 4:18 (ESV)
18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:21 (ESV)
21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
Now getting thrown in prison does not take much faith. However, what does take mind blowing faith is continuing to do the same thing that got you imprisoned and threatened. Which is exactly what Peter and John were willing to do.
In fact, when they got back to the other Apostles and told them what happened no tried to stop them from continuing in spreading the Gospel. Instead they went straight into prayer. Many of us would probably ask God for protection from the Pharisees. But the Apostles had faith that God would keep them safe. So they prayed simply for the boldness to keep preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:29 (ESV)
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
Praising Through Persecution
Like Peter and John, Paul and Silas were not going to let persecution stop them from serving the Lord. That’s why we find them still praying and praising God even while chained in prison.
Acts 16:25 (ESV)
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
It truly does amazing me to read the accounts of the book of Acts. These men had been beaten yet still praised God. Because they trust God more than life itself. They knew God had placed them there for a reason and had the faith to keep on serving no matter how bad it got. That is kind of faith that sadly we do not see today.
Great Faith Leads To Great Awaking
Acts does not just record the amazing faith of the Apostles. It also records the results of such great faith. Almost every time great faith is exercised a great awakening occurs in a group of people.
For instance after the lame man is healed the door is opened for Peter to present the Gospel. While the paharess cut his message a little sort. They were still not able to stop it before a great number of people come to believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
Acts 4:1–4 (ESV)
4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
The Apostles prayed by faith to receive boldness from the Lord and he gave them just that. Later in the book of Acts we see how the Apostles went forth preaching boldly to all people. Which leads to countless individuals being saved all because of extreme faith.
Acts 4:31 (ESV)
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.
Acts 9:28 (ESV)
28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
Not only does the book of Acts records the miraculous way in which Paul and Silas were released from prison. It also tells the conversion story of the Phillipian jailer who was charged with watching over them. Their faith lead to a move of God which in turn led to an entire family receiving salvation.
Acts 16:30–33 (ESV)
30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
Every Christian Needs This Faith
If you read the book of Acts you will quickly see that these are just a few examples of the great acts of faith it contains. Which you definitely need to take the time to do. Because it is only by the kind of faith the early church had that we will see a real change happen in our world.
Today many Christians have weak faith. They have no faith to step out and really try to do something. Jesus said great things would come from those who follow after Him. But without faith like that of the Apostles will never see those great things come to be.
Hopefully we have shown you what great faith can do. Yes a little faith can go a long way but the first church taught us what great faith can do. Which is exactly what we need in today. Trust God more than anything else you have and cultivate mind blowing faith in your own life. Thanks for reading and God Bless!
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