WHO WAS I?
ACTS 11:15-18
ACTS 11:15-18 NKJ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
Peter was facing a barrage of attacks from the Jewish believers about daring to preach Jesus to Gentiles. The Gentiles being anyone who was not of Jewish heritage. Peter made his defense by citing the Holy Spirit's instructions for him to go to the home of a Gentile and the fact that six believers went with him. When they observed the Holy Spirit fall on those Gentile converts and remembered Jesus' words about being baptized with the Holy Spirit, they made an astute observation. God was doing something. Then, they came to very wise conclusion: if God is doing something, who am I to try to stop Him? Peter's obedience to go to the Gentiles, and his refusal to hold onto religious tradition, opened the door of the gospel to all people regardless of their background.
APPLICATION
In essence, Peter experienced an event, the baptism of the Gentiles with the Holy Spirit that was confirmed by Jesus' words. Whenever God is doing something, His word will confirm that experience. The trick is for us to set aside our preconceived thoughts and religious tradition and embrace His works. When He is saving, healing, baptizing with the Holy Spirit, speaking, providing, and doing miracles, we don't want to withstand Him. We want to stand with Him. After all, who are we to withstand God?
PRAYER
Dear Father, Whatever You are doing in the church, the world, my life, confirm it to me by Your Holy Word. I never want to get in the way of You helping and loving people.