Acts 11:17  Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 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.

It’s when something has been a core value preached, declared and depended upon that any thought to the contrary is understandably withstood with passion. And yet, when you’re wrong, especially when it comes to the will and determination of God, what has been established as foundational from man’s perspective, even through the ages, will not really matter in the least. For those in the early church, the thought of Gentiles legitimately worshiping their God was directly opposed to what they had embraced as truth. To consider that these uncircumcised people could receive the same promise Jesus had given them was not something that could have come to them apart from direct, demonstrated communication from God Himself. As long as the conflict remained in the realm of mental reasoning, there would be no giving in. With the onset of this dramatic revelation, though, there was need of an expression of heart transformation on the part of those being shown- “what was I, that I could withstand God?” There is an opportunity presented with God’s demonstrated truth to either continue grasping to what seems to be “right” or humbly recognize that no matter how established, ancient, and high the fortress of opposing thought, it is rendered futile, ineffective, and meaningless against the force of an Almighty purpose. To take a position of attempting to preserve those former structures may preserve some form of religious expression, but it cannot be a part of kingdom progress if it becomes a stronghold standing against the will of God.

He takes the foolish things to confound the wise. He saves the world in a man-made structure never before seen or considered. He delivers a nation through a stuttering man with a staff. When a giant needs to be brought down, He uses a boy with none of the ‘legitimate’ weapons. To redeem the world and destroy the power of sin and death, He sends a baby in a manger who never wields a sword or establishes a ‘legitimate’ government. To impact the world with the powerful message of the Gospel and communicate the revelation of the cross, He uses a language that cannot be explained or even understood. Whenever God determines to move in the hearts and lives of men, He doesn’t confine Himself to what has ‘seemed’ right to them. For those who have been a part of His movement, there has also been a need to give up on withstanding His moving, no matter how many religious shrines are brought down in the process. 

There is a very good chance that what and through whom God chooses to impart His will and purpose will in some way directly oppose established human reasoning. As demonstrations confirm the legitimacy of His will, those who are most bonded to tradition and pride will have the greatest difficulty letting go of practices and rituals that have represented their faith. Where embrace of the Father in worship is given precedence over religious institutions, though, there will be a place on the ark, a promised land, a seat in heavenly places, and an effective purpose in God’s kingdom adventure of the last days.