Withstanding God

Articles

Derek Long
11/29/20 - Wrong Attitudes

Withstanding God By Derek Long

In Acts 11, Peter is called into question by Jewish brethren for going and eating with the Gentile household of Cornelius (Acts 11:1-3). Peter defends his actions in going to teach Cornelius and his household by pointing out: 1. God told him to go and teach these Gentiles (Acts 11:4-12). 2. God told Cornelius to send for and have Peter teach him what he needed to do to be saved (Acts 11:13-14). 3. The Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and his household as Peter was speaking to them as had happened to the apostles on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 11:15-16). In light of these facts and the clear evidence God presented to show He desired the Gentiles to hear the word of the gospel and be saved, Peter makes the following statement, “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?” (Acts 11:17, NKJV). For Peter not to teach the Gentiles and baptize them into Christ would be to withstand God. Can we withstand God today? If so, how can we end up withstanding God today? The Bible gives us examples of people who instead of complying with God’s wishes withstood or resisted God. Gamaliel warned the Sanhedrin that attempting to stop something which was from God would be equivalent to trying to fight against God (Acts 5:39) and would be futile. A person or group of individuals may attempt to stop God’s plan like the Sanhedrin did but there efforts will not be successful at stopping God from accomplishing His purpose (Acts 4:23-30). Stephen addresses a group of Jews and tells them, “You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51, NKJV). These Jews in Stephen’s day were following the bad example set by their forefathers of withstanding or resisting God. They were unwilling to hear and heed the message God was revealing to them through His messengers. Saul of Tarsus was withstanding or resisting God. When Jesus appears to Saul on the road to Damascus, He tells Saul, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:5, NKJV). Saul’s refusal to accept the gospel message was an act of withstanding or kicking against God’s plan. Withstanding God takes place when a person fails to do what God would have the person to do. It was God’s intention for Peter to go and teach the Gentiles of Cornelius’ house. A failure to teach and baptize them would be an act of withstanding God. When a person today fails to do what God would have the person to do, they are withstanding God. For example, when God commands people today to, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38, NKJV) and people refuse to do what God commands them to do to be saved they are withstanding or resisting God. Withstanding God could also take place by doing what God tells a person not to do. God may reveal to us there are certain things we ought not to engage in and when we engage in such things we are in reality withstanding God. Ephesians 5:3-7 gives us some examples of things a Christian ought not to engage in. It says, “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them” (NKJV). When a Christian decides to go ahead and engage in such actions, they are withstanding God. Are we trying to withstand God or are we willing to submit to His will?