Filling The Void-2 Series

D—Setting the Stage for the Spirit

FILLING THE VOID-II—Acts 1:15-26

Peter initiated the selection process by which an apostle would be chosen to remove the void in their ranks created by Judas Iscariot.

A void in leadership/the ranks must be removed.

A void in leadership/the ranks creates a vacuum which must be removed.

When must a void in position/leadership be removed?

A void in leadership must be removed as....

1. BURDEN Demands It(:15-16)

2. VACUUM Demands it(:16-17)

3. REALITY Demands It(:18-19)

4—A void in leadership must be removed as....

SCRIPTURE Demands It(:16, 20)

Explanation:(:16, 20)

:16—“Men & brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;”

“This Scripture had to be fulfilled”

—Scripture speaks to Specific people, needs, events & times!

“Guide”—odhgov—A leader of the way, a guide; A teacher of the ignorant & inexperienced. From two words meaning—a leader to the way, road or course.

“Arrested”—sullambanw—To seize, take one as a prisoner; To conceive(of a woman); To seize for one’s self.

Jn. 6:51-71—““I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; & the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man & drink His blood, you have no life in you. “Whoever eats My flesh & drinks My blood has eternal life, & I will raise him up at the last day. “For My flesh is food indeed, & My blood is drink indeed. “He who eats My flesh & drinks My blood abides in Me, & I in him. “As the living Father sent Me, & I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. “This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, & are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? “What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, & they are life. “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, & who would betray Him. And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” From that time many of His disciples went back & walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. “Also we have come to believe & know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, & one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.”

“Which the Holy Spirit spoke before before by the mouth of David”—

:20—“For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; &, ‘Let another take his office.’”

—The above events(:18-19) though not so precisely described in prophecy, were nonetheless, generally described in Psalm 69:25 & Ps. 109:8.

—The office was now vacant & his “place” thus being “desolate” was to be taken by another person.

Ps. 69:22-28—of the king’s(Lord’s) adversaries—“Let their table become a snare before them, And their well-being a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually. Pour out Your indignation upon them, And let Your wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents. For they persecute the ones You have struck, And talk of the grief of those You have wounded. Add iniquity to their iniquity, And let them not come into Your righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.”