Who Can Forbid? by Kirk Hunt
For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Acts 10:46 – 47 NKJV
Please also read Acts 10
I am always stunned by those who forbid what God is doing. They do not seem to care for the numbers, depth or level of impact of God’s move. They always seem to have some man-made rule that counters the very Word of God.
Despite Jesus’ Great Commission, there were early Church leaders who insisted that only Jews could become Christians. Despite Jesus’ healing of the Canaanite and the Centurion’s faith, some of the Disciples maintained a narrow, elitist, judgmental view of who could, or should, be accepted by God. With the ongoing evidence of God’s choices before their very eyes, Peter still had to challenge the circumcised Christians to accept non-Jewish believers and disciples.
Too often we ask God to bless what we are doing. Far more often, we should seek to do what God is commanding. Our obedience to His Word and instruction cannot help but be blessed.
Human rules can sometimes be helpful, but we should never let them stand against what God commands or is doing. God commands His people to reach into all the world and make disciples. Anyone, or anything, that forbids the advancement God’s Word of Kingdom cannot be a good thing. Do not, as a follower of Jesus Christ, try to forbid what God is busy doing.
Think: Am I following God and His divine Word, or something else?
Pray: “Lord, help me to not to forbid what You command.”
Copyright © March 2019, Kirk Hunt
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