Acts 11:18 – THEY HELD THEIR PEACE
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Peter had just returned to Jerusalem after baptizing Cornelius and his household. Peter not only baptized Cornelius with water but also with the Holy Ghost. Word of what Peter had done at Cornelius’ house traveled to Jerusalem faster than Peter did and upon Peter reaching Jerusalem, the apostles started questioning Peter about interacting with the Gentiles.
When the apostles heard what God had done and how God had sent an angel to Cornelius and gave Peter a vision, they understood that what had happened was of God. Even though it went against everything that they thought or knew, the apostles understood that God needed to receive the glory and they praised God for what HE had done.
The apostles saw something that they did not like but they were willing to acknowledge that God was in control. The apostles were not willing to fight against the work of God. How the apostles responded to this situation is completely different then the religious leaders handled the apostles preaching to the Jews after the day of Pentecost. The religious leaders were so tied up with their traditions that even though they could see that God was using these men, they refused to acknowledge the things that God was doing and they fought against God.
We need to follow the example of the apostles and not follow the example of the religious leaders. We need to slow to judge how God might be working through someone else. The apostles heard what had happened and they saw the fruit and understood that this fruit can only come from God so while it may have gone against their traditions, they were willing to give God the glory.
There is a lot of tension around the world among the Church because of various denominations. Different denominations have different traditions and because of how entrenched they are with their traditions, they can often snub their noses at another denomination because they do not see how God could work with another denomination that does not follow the same traditions as their church.
We need to remember the commands of Christ and remember not to judge least we also be judged. We need to be patient and understand that we do not fully understand how God works. Just because you have a certain picture about how you think God works, it does not mean that God cannot work in someone else’s life a little bit differently.
You need to remember that God had Joshua defeat Jericho by marching around the city and blowing trumpets. God had Gideon defeat the enemy with only three hundred men. God had David defeat the Philistines by him being willing to go out and face Goliath alone with a stone and a sling. God does not always work the same and you will never fully understand God as long as you try to put God in a box.
When God works in someone else’s life, look at the fruit, if the fruit is of God, then praise HIM. If the fruit is not of God, then be cautious. However do not find yourself fighting against God. If God is working in someone else’s life, then you need to stop trying to force God in your little box and be willing to grow in your understanding of God’s perfect will. Be patient and as you live your life with your eyes wide open, God will show you many wonderful things.