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The 12th Apostle…
- 1st – Small beginnings… vs. 15
- 1st – 120 people…
- There were 120 people gathered together in the upper room…
- A small group of believers waiting for God work through them to reach a lost world…
- I am sure the idea seemed impossible to them at the time…
- Even the thought of being able to impact one city – Jerusalem – seemed far-fetched…
- They were poor and uneducated fishermen from a small conquered nation…
- They spoke Hebrew – a language no one else knew…
- Even their own people – the Jews – despised them and sought to kill them!
- Yet from these humble beginnings – God would transform the world!
- Through their testimony – billions of people would go to heaven!
- 2nd – Humble people…
- We might feel like who are we – what could God do through us…
- It is so easy for us to forget God wants to use us to change our world!
- II Chronicles 16:9 – “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”
- It does not matter who we are – what matters is who is in us…
- All God is looking for are humble men and women willing to be used…
- Men and women of prayer – full of the power of the Holy Spirit – unstoppable for God!
- 2nd – End of Judas… vs. 16-19
- 1st – Jesus knew…vs. 16-17
- Quoting the Bible…
- Peter stood up and addressed the disciples – The Scriptures were fulfilled…
- Judas was one of the Apostles – but he betrayed Jesus to those who crucified Him…
- This was not a surprise to Jesus – David in the Psalms had prophesied about it…
- Psalms 41:9 – “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted – who ate my bread – has lifted up his heel against me.”
- Jesus knew…
- Jesus could at any time have told everyone it was Judas – could have stopped him…
- But instead Jesus gave Judas three years to repent – choose life…
- Unwilling to repent – unwilling to change – Judas sealed his fate!
- God calls us to reach out to everyone with the hope of eternal life…
- But not everyone will believe – not that we stop sharing – but the choice is theirs…
- Not everyone will go to heaven – though God wants them to – II Peter 3:9
- Because they refuse the goodness of God – they refuse to accept Jesus Christ!
- Quoting the Bible…
- 2nd – Guilty…
- 1st – Jesus knew…vs. 16-17
- Innocent blood…
- He knew he had sinned by betraying an innocent man – Matthew 27:3
- He returned to the Jewish leaders – and threw the 30 pieces at their feet…
- The Jewish leaders had no such remorse – or sympathy for Judas…
- What was done – was done – they told him to live with his decision!
- Worldly repentance…
- One might assume Judas had a chance of heart – sorry for what he had done…
- But Judas did not go to Jesus and repent – or to God – for forgiveness…
- II Corinthians 7:10 – “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
- The way most people deal with their burden of guilt it to try and forget it…
- They drown themselves in alcohol / or keep themselves busy…
- But the moment they stop / become sober – the guilt and despairs return!
- When we sin we might beat ourselves up – how could I have done that…
- But if we do not turn from our sinful ways to Jesus – we do not change!
He desires to raise someone up for a calling – where they will flourish for a lifetime!
3rd – Selfish Act… vs. 18
In his final act Judas revealed the selfishness of his heart – he took his life…
But apparently the noose did NOT hold – and snapped under Judas weight…
So he fell down to the ground – burst open – and his intestines spilled out…
A gruesome and sad end to a man who had walked with Jesus!
What happens to someone who commits suicide…
The problem is – this is not our life – we belong to God – I Corinthians 6:19
God and God alone has the right to decide when our time here is over…
Suicide is a completely selfish act – it is the EASY way out of difficult times…
Leaving behind everyone else – loved ones – to suffer through the consequences…
But do not think that those who commit suicide automatically go to hell…
Sin does not keep us out of heaven – it is rejecting Jesus that sends us to hell…
A momentary foolish decision – made in desperation – cannot undo the Grace of God!
4th – His reward… vs. 19
The problem…
Judas left the Priests with a problem – the 30 pieces of silver…
They could not just put it into the treasury – it was blood money…
So they purchased a Potters field – Aceldama [field of blood]
They purchased it as a place to bury strangers who died in Jerusalem…
The field lies on a narrow level terrace on the south side of the valley of Hinnom!
Valley of Hinnom [Topheth – place of fire] is southern valley of Jerusalem…
Where King Manasseh sacrificed children to the God Molech – II Kings 23:10
Gehenna – Matthew 10:28
Gehenna – used 12 times in the NT– the Valley of Hinnom [translated as Hell]
Jesus uses the Valley of Hinnom as a word picture – for hell – eternal judgment…
The FIELD that was bought with Judas REWARD was Hell!
Judas reward for his betrayal of Jesus – was eternal separation from God…
Not that Judas was worse than any other sinner – we are no better than Judas!
There are no levels of sinners – greater or lesser sinners – we are all just sinners….
We have all purchased our place in eternity with the REWARD of our sin….
Our hope – if we will believe – Jesus died for us so that we go instead to heaven!
God does not send good people to Hell – there are none!
What is amazing is that because of Jesus – God sends sinners to Heaven!
3rd – Twelfth Apostle… vs. 20-26
1st – Eleven disciples… vs. 20
Quoting scripture…
Just as Judas betrayal had been prophesied – so had his replacement…
Someone else was to take the place of Judas – Psalm 69:25 – Psalm 109:8
Because it was God’s design that the 12 Apostles be the foundation of the church…
So since Judas was no longer one of the 12 – they needed someone else!
Revelation 21:14 – “Now the wall of the [New Jerusalem] had twelve foundations -and on them were the names of the TWELVE apostles of the Lamb.”
Do NOTHING…
Peter was right on in going to the Word of God for answers…
He was right about Judas betrayal – and the need to replace him…
But Jesus had not told THE disciples to choose a replacement – He told them to wait
But as is so often the case – they got tired of waiting – and decided to do something!
If we want to be used by God – His Word needs to direct us…
But we also need to have the patience to wait for His timing…
But we get tired of waiting and jump in because something needs to be done…
And like a little child who wants to HELP Dad – we do far more harm than good…
Often we will find the less we do – the less God has to undo!
2nd – The qualifications… vs. 21-26
Like us…
One who was with them from the Baptism of Jesus – to the Ascension…
TWO men were chosen by the disciples – Justas and Matthias… .
Then the disciples prayed to the Lord – Which one do You want Lord…
What the disciples missed that these TWO men were NOT the only choices!
So often we pray and ask God to choose between the options that WE give Him…
Lord do I go to the right or to the left – never considering neither is the right choice!
We would be far wiser to ask the Lord – what is HIS best option for us!
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart – and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him – and He shall direct your paths.”
No answer…
There was no answer from the Lord – because neither was man was God’s choice…
But that did not stop the disciples – they cast lots – likely using two stones…
The idea likely came from the Urim and the Thummim – Exodus 28:15-30
The priests would ask God a YES or NO question then pull out a stone…
If it was white – then the answer was YES / if it was black – the answer was NO!
Mattias….
The lot fell on Matthias – so he was counted among the 11 apostles…
Because he had the ‘credentials’ the disciples were looking for!
Men tend to look for the diploma on the wall – a paper from important people…
But the proof of the calling of God is not in the recognition of men…
I know a lot of men who have the pastoral degree – who are not pastors…
And I know a lot of men who have no degree – no diplomas – who are pastors!
The calling of God – is shown through the work of God in our lives!
3rd – Lasting Fruit…
One time…
This is the only time in the Bible we ever read about Matthias…
Matthias was the Apostles’ choice to be Judas replacement…
We never read about him again – because He was not Gods choice to replace Judas!
The best ideas – the most qualified – can do nothing without the power of God…
The worst ideas – the least qualified – cannot fail when God is on their side!
When people are just placed in a position – usually nothing happens…
Just because there is a need – does not mean we are the ones to step up and help…
Just because we have certain gifts and abilities – does not mean we are qualified…
The question is not who has the most talent – or the best ideas…
The question is whom has God called – who has God anointed for a work!
Paul…
There was another man – who was chosen by Jesus himself to be an Apostle…
Galatians 1:1 – “Paul – an apostle [not from men nor through man – but through Jesus].”
Jesus personally appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus – Acts 9
Chosen by Jesus to be the Apostle to the Gentiles – Romans 11:13
Paul wrote 1/3 of the New Testament – and his ‘fruit’ can still be seen today!
Anointed by God
If God is the one who call a person – the results are dynamic!
John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”
When God is the one who calls a man – God is the one who does the work…
It is about seeing the calling of God on our lives – His choice!
God is not in a hurry to put someone into a position – for a day…
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