Taking Care of Business
“Discerning God’s Will”
Acts 1:15-26
Intro: This might be the 1st church business meeting in history.
Prop: We can know God’s will if we keep our hearts right and trust Him completely.
Interrogative: How do we do that?
TS: The following perspectives will help us discern God’s will in our lives.
I. The Reliability of Scripture (Let the Bible Be Your Guide)
A. The Bible is Absolutely Trustworthy
-As Peter stands up to address the issue of the missing apostle, He turns first to God’s word. That is a good lesson for us to learn. The principles in God’s word give us guidance for every kind of situation we can face in life. Scripture may not give us an explicit example of every situation we might face, but the principles of love, mercy, justice, and humility will help us find what God wants us to do.
-The world does not understand how the Bible speaks to us today. However, God’s word is eternal. He does not change. What He inspired 2000 to 3500 years ago is still relevant for our lives today. We will never outgrow our need for God’s word. It can be trusted to help us through this life, as God speaks to us through its pages.
-Paul reminds Timothy of the value of the OT. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ”All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17 It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” Likewise, the NT is fully inspired by God and can be trusted as a means of receiving revelation from God.
-Now you might be saying, “Okay Pastor, that all sounds very spiritual, but how do we really know that what is in the Bible is true?” Well, there are people who believe that the NT was written so long after the life of Christ that it is not an accurate reflection of what really happened. In other words, all that Jesus said and did was blown out of proportion- kind of like a myth or a legend. Lee Stobel answers this well in his book The Case for Christ. He says that even if most of the NT was written 40 years after Christ’s death and resurrection, that is not nearly enough time for legend to develop. There would have been too many people (many Christians, but also enemies of Christ) still around who had been in Jerusalem and had witnessed the events. They would have set the record straight if it had been blown out of proportion.
-Strobel goes on to say that the earliest biographies on the life of Alexander the Great were written by Arrian and Plutarch more than 400 years after Alexander’s death in 323 BC. However, historians consider their accounts to be factual and trustworthy. Legend did develop about Alexander the Great, but not until more than 500 years after his death. By that comparison, 30 or 40 years after Christ’s death would not be enough time for legend to develop. We could go on and relate other evidence that supports the validity of Scripture, including the fact that other historical documents line up with many of the events of Scripture. However, I think you get the point. The Bible can be trusted! It was not man’s idea, but God’s idea! Jesus quoted an OT Scripture when He was being tempted by the devil. "It is written: ’Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’" (Matthew 4:4). Read your Bible! This is how we are to guide our lives!
-When Peter stood up to speak, he said that…
B. The Prophecies in Scripture Must Be Fulfilled
-Just as God’s word is accurate and relevant for our daily lives, so the promises and prophecies in Scripture will happen in God’s timing. Peter said, “The Scripture had to be fulfilled….” What God has said will come to pass. It may not happen in your lifetime, but if God said it, He will do it! We can trust His promises!
-Well, why did there need to be 12 apostles? Why did they need to select someone to take the place of Judas?
C. The Significance of 12 Apostles – After the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, scholars were able to read about what was called the Essene community of devout Jews who had written and preserved the scrolls. The Essenes viewed themselves as the true remnant of Israel and they chose 12 special leaders to symbolize the correlation between the 12 tribes of Israel. It appears that Jesus chose the 12 to indicate the same thing- that Jesus was indeed preserving the true remnant of Israel, which in the book of Acts would become known as the church. Judas had forfeited his place among the 12, so a replacement was needed in order to convey this idea that the church would be the true remnant of Israel.
-Luke 22:29-30 29 And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right 30 to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [Mt. 19:28]
-Isn’t it amazing how Scripture all works together and agrees with itself? 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Christ, and 12 thrones. God knows what He is doing and we can catch a glimpse of it in His word.
-TS: Well, it helps us to know that we can trust the Bible, but we also need to know the fate of those who do not obey God’s word. What kind of reward did Judas receive?
II. The Reward of Wickedness (Know the Reward of Wickedness) (18)
A. Death- not just physical, but eternal spiritual separation from God.
-Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, ’As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’
-Rom. 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
-John 3:16 16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
-God is not willing that anyone should perish or be separated from Him for eternity. That is why He is so clear in Scripture about the fate of the wicked. Those who do not love God or acknowledge Him as Lord are heading for eternal punishment. God’s plan for mankind is eternal life, not eternal death. Man must choose life over death.
B. Desolation- refers to Judas’ name, family, and all his material possessions. This is fitting when we read of how Judas was greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful. John tells us in John 12:6 that Judas was a thief and used to take money from the money box that the disciples kept among them. So, the man who was in it for the money died destitute of any riches whatsoever. Folks, money is important to God. How we think about money and how we manage what God has blessed us with is highly important to God. Jesus said you cannot serve God and money. Money is to be a servant not a master. If money controls how you think, how you live, and how you value other people, then you are headed for trouble. Beware of the temptation to get something for nothing. If that is a motivating factor in your life, I urge you to check your heart. The idea of getting something for nothing is a poverty mentality and is blatantly unbiblical! It will lead to poverty, not blessing. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” We should expend more energy trying to bless someone else than trying to secure a blessing for ourselves. I am not suggesting that you refuse people’s kindness, but don’t always position yourself for it.
-We know that the reward Judas received for his wickedness was 30 pieces of silver. That money was used to buy a field where Judas was buried after he took his own life. What a tragic end to a man who had spent 3 years with Jesus! He had everything he would ever need in Christ, but He cashed it all in for personal gain. The reward of wickedness is poverty and desolation.
C. Disqualification
“May another take his place of leadership; Judas left to go where he belongs.”
-Not only was Judas desolate, but he was disqualified. He was disqualified from apostleship, and he disqualified himself from eternal life. The question comes up, “Could Judas have been saved?” Would Jesus have forgiven Judas if he repented? You may or may not agree with me here, but I believe Christ would have forgiven him if he had repented. However, there was no repentance in Judas’ heart. I think there was remorse, shame, and sorrow, but not repentance. You could not write a more depressing biography than that of Judas. He saw himself as being out of the reach of God’s grace, so rather than face up to what he had done (betraying the Son of God), he took matters into his own hands and ended the life God had given to him.
-I hope nobody here thinks they are out of the reach of God’s grace. No matter what you’ve done in the past, God will forgive you! Where there is true repentance from the heart, there is forgiveness in that heart! Sometimes people like to create limits to God’s grace. They might say, “God will not forgive a person who is a child molester.” Now, while that is one of the worst things I can think of that a person could do, I have to disagree with that statement. God’s grace can reach beyond man’s lowest and ugliest sin and bring forgiveness and restoration – IF there is true repentance. Without repentance, the reward of wickedness is disqualification.
-TS: Well, let’s move on to a more positive topic. Let’s talk about the kind of person the apostles were looking for to replace Judas.
III. The Reward of Faithfulness (Make Sure Christ has your whole heart)
-They wanted someone who had been “with us the whole time.” This speaks of faithfulness and commitment. It also speaks of someone who spent a lot of time with the Lord.
-Peter seems to give two qualifications for being one of the 12 apostles: 1. Trained by Jesus, and 2. A Witness of the Resurrection. 2 men stood out as the most qualified of the group of believers. They weren’t in and out, on again off again, but continued with the Lord and the other disciples the whole time Christ ministered.
-This is in harmony with the Lord’s teachings on faithfulness. “You have been faithful in the little things; therefore, I will make you a ruler over many things.” Faithfulness brings both reward and responsibility.
-Mathias was chosen based on a history of faithfulness and a heart that pleased God (24). God is described literally as “the Knower of Hearts.” Church Tradition tells us that Mathias later became a missionary to the Ethiopians.
-God is the One who knows our hearts today. He knows every thought we think. He knows our motives. So we may as well be completely honest with Him and with ourselves and invite Him to change our hearts. We don’t want to be half-hearted in our love and commitment to Christ. We want to love the Lord with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, and all of our strength. If we will do that, we will not lose our reward. The reward of the faithful is eternal life that is being lived in the here and now. Yes, we will meet Jesus in the air someday, but until then, meet Him in your prayer closet. Meet Him at this altar. Meet Him throughout every day as He lives in and through you. Let His life be expressed through your life.
-TS: Finally, as we trust God’s word, and consider the rewards of both wickedness and faithfulness, He will lead us into the knowledge of His will.
IV. The Revelation of God’s Will (Pray and Step Out in Faith)
-Casting lots (similar to rolling dice) is probably not the recommended form of discerning God’s will. It was common in OT- Proverbs 16:33 33“The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.” After the outpouring of the HS, we don’t find believers casting lots anymore. The implication is that the HS will lead and guide us into all truth. He will enable us to discern the will of God. (It seemed good to the HS and to us.)
-The best thing we can do to find God’s will is pray. However, there also comes a point when we must step out in faith. The apostles prayed, then they cast lots, trusting God for the outcome.
-So, when you are seeking to know God’s will for your life, there is help. First, the Bible is to be our guide as we approach every decision. Second, we need to make sure our hearts are right with God so we do not go the way of Judas. Third, we must pray, asking God to guide us in the right direction. Then, we need to step out in faith to do what we sense is right. We also have common sense that God gave us to use. This is why the apostles selected two good men who had been faithful and had been with them and with the Lord during His ministry. I might also add that God may give you insight through other believers. However, do not try to get them to make your decisions for you. Listen to their insight, and if it agrees with God’s word, and with what the HS is speaking to your heart, then receive it and do it.
Conclusion: As we close today, how do you take care of business? The apostles approached their business by the Bible, prayer, common sense, and action. Whether you are at home, at work, at school, or somewhere in between, these same principles should govern our lives. I can’t help but think of the Scripture in Prov. 3:5-6 that also tells us how to live and discern God’s will for our lives: Proverbs 3:5-6 5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
-God will direct our paths if we trust Him and talk things over with Him. If you are facing an important decision or need some direction in your life, I urge you to let God be the mover and shaker in your life. God knows what we need; He knows when, where, and how much we need. Commit yourself to reading His word, praying, and trusting Him as you step out in faith.
-Today if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can begin one by following these same principles. Read about Him in the Bible. Consider the rewards of both the wicked and the faithful. Pray and ask God to show you the truth about Him and about yourself. Ask Him to forgive you and to lead your life. He will help you become a faithful person who lives for God and for others. If you think you’ve gone too far away from God, please realize that you are not beyond the reach of God’s grace. He loves you and will hear your prayer of repentance. If you are ready to give your heart to Him today, will you raise your hand so I can pray for you?
