Peter here was referring to when the Italian centurion, Cornelius, and his family was baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues (Acts 10:44-48). Peter was amazed because even the Gentiles could be saved and baptized in the Holy Ghost. Afterwards, Peter was accused of wrongdoing for preaching the gospel to the Jews. Then Peter explained himself, how that God is of no respecter of persons. When Jesus died, the color line was washed in His blood. Jew or Gentile could come before His throne and receive whatsoever they ask for in faith. If God can grant salvation to the Gentiles, then He can pour out the Holy Ghost on us too! To say that God cannot is limiting an all-powerful God.

Peter did not even begin to preach to Cornelius. He could only get a few words out of what he was going to talk about, and the Holy Ghost fell on them just like it did in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost. As soon as this happened, Peter was brought to remembrance of what Christ said in Matthew 3:11, “John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” The occurrence lined up with God’s Word. It was not counterfeit or imitated. Cornelius was a devout man of God, who gave much alms and prayed always. However, he had never experienced the Holy Ghost, and it was for Him. There are many devout people of God who have never experienced the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but they are available to those who will pursue them. It was available to Cornelius because he was a child of God who maintained a relationship with Him! Peter’s brothers and apostles of Judea was unacceptable towards this at first because these Gentiles were not circumcised, but in Peter’s sight, he could not denounce a move and experience with God for tradition. Yea, if it does not line up with God’s Word it is counterfeit, but it did line up with the words of Jesus Christ, and it broke through the traditional barriers. Therefore, it was of God, and, in Peter’s words, “What was I, that I could withstand God?”

Have you ever withstood God in something before? Whatever it is, it will never succeed. It may be demonically motivated for a season to try to destroy you, but if you are not living a prayer life and using discernment, it will not work, and the intentions of that plan is to destroy you. I have seen this in the area of relationships more than any other area in the church. People will withstand God because they are blinded by someone’s physical appearance, and even though that relationship is leading them to a very dark alley, they will keep going down it. Regardless of how hard you try to fight God, you will not be successful, and the more you wallow in that misery, the harder it is to get out of it. It pays to follow the voice of God, regardless of what your flesh tells you to or not. The things of this world may be attractive at times, but you are engaged to Christ, and if you just remain faithful to Him, loving and obeying Him in all things, you will save yourself so much trouble!

In the same way, so many people in the church have withstood God because of their vain religion and traditions. They will deny the multitudes getting saved and filled with the Holy Spirit because of what they have been indoctrinated with. We have all these phrases and beliefs that have absolutely no biblical foundation, and if it is not founded on God’s Word, it cannot stand! When the apostles of God were being persecuted in Acts 5, Gamaliel rose up and commanded to give the apostles a little room, saying, “Refrain from these men, and let them alone:  for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:38-39) I would hate to be the one that calls myself a Christian and fights totally against the will of God! Yet, Christians do it every single day.

Needless to say, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for every child of God. Acts 2:39 says, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” If you have answered the call of God on your life, you too can receive salvation and the gifts of the Holy Ghost. According to Romans 11:17-24, Paul said that the Gentiles have been engrafted into this plan as a wild olive tree. 1 Corinthians 12:31 says, “But covet earnestly the best gifts:  and yet shew I unto you a more excellent.” The gifts of the Holy Spirit have not ceased, and it is not proven in scripture. The only halfway thinkable verse of scripture that cessationists use to try to prove their foolish beliefs is history and 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, which says, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” The tongues will only be done away with when that which is perfect shall come, and since Christ has not come and set up His kingdom, tongues have still not ceased. So, it is available for you. Just pay the price and seek God for them, and you will be blessed!