Matt is a surveyor for a land development firm. He has designs on going back to college. He started his family when he was young and didn’t have time to take but a couple of courses at night. Yet, the kids are moving on with their lives and he’s been wondering what God wants him to do with the second half of his life. Matt has been attending a small church of about 120 people or so, when the church’s pastor, announces they need a new missionary. The pastor tells the few people present to pick a number and write it down because he’s going to roll the dice on the table upfront. Sure enough, the dice point to Matt. He’s the church’s newest missionary! This story is a “mostly” true story. Instead of Matt, the young man’s name is Matthias and you can read it in Acts 1.
Just weeks away from the resurrection and literally hours from Jesus’ ascension to heaven… Judas had deserted the Twelve weeks before, and they only now set about to identify his replacement. So the larger group of disciples had gathered together and they put forward two from the approximately 120: Joseph called Barsabbas (not Barabbas who Pilate released in Jesus’ place) and Matthias.
Today, I want to focus your next few moments on the intersection of God’s Will and God’s mission. … at the intersection of God’s Will and God’s mission. What is God’s will for my life? God has a will and a purpose for your life.
Today Scripture
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’ 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:12–26)
We continue our study of the book of Acts today. For believers, one of the most common questions we ask of our lives and of our Lord is this: what’s God’s will for my life. Again, I want to focus on the intersection of God’s Will and God’s mission. Understanding and discerning God’s will for your life can be so difficult. Is finding God’s will in real-time, like -ife version of an Easter Egg hunt? God is in heaven and we’re down here on earth hunting to discover His will. At times, we feel like we ask the “silent heavens,” “God, do you have a plan for my life? How do I find your will for my life? And how far off from Your plan am I currently?” While He sits above saying, “You’re getting colder. You’re getting warmer.” The Scripture is clear that God has a desire or there’s choice you can and should make that please Him.
The famous Psalm 23 talks about God’s will: “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3). Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34). Jesus taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Even Jesus asked God the Father: And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).
So, God’s will. Young people ask about God’s will, Should I date? Some of you are asking about that last relationship, “What was I thinking?” God made His will clear on relationships: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3) What career path should I choose? Sometimes it’s God will you suffer for doing the right thing: “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17). All believers ask these questions. I want you to know, it is God’s will that you hear this sermon. Really, what are the odds you would just happen to be here? Let me start with two wrong ways where …
You’ll Miss God’s Will When You … (Quick – Hitters)
1. Seek it Mechanically
Modern people read the way the disciples found Judas’ replacement by casting lots: “And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:26)
It’s not hard to find biblical examples where people made a decision by casting lots – it happens numerous times throughout the Bible. The Holy Land was parceled out by sacred lots (Joshua 18:6). Saul was chosen to be king by lot (1 Samuel 10) and Jonah went overboard in the same way (Jonah 1). Now, some of us would love to be able to press a few buttons and discover the best course of life to take.
Think with me about the Magic 8 ball toy, for a moment. How many of you want the will of God for your life (raise your hand)? Rather than seeking God’s will like programming a computer or shaking a magic 8 ball, the will of God is to be sought with prayer. “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:17)
You’ll Miss God’s Will When You …
2. Give in to Fatalism
Fatalism is the belief that all events are predetermined and everything in life is inevitable. Doris Day’s Que Sera, Sera … Whatever will be, will be. Focus with me on the suicide of Judas for a moment (verses 16-19). A fatalist would simply shrug her shoulders and say, “There’s no point…” Why did Luke remind us that Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and threw the money back in the temple? Why use this ugly, brutal, tragic story? Why did he include how the priests put their heads together and evidently said, “Well, this is not our money, it belongs to Judas. He’s dead, so let’s buy a field (probably the very field where he died) in Judas name, and use it to bury people like that?” I think the reason God included the story of Judas is simple: Not even the betrayal of one of Jesus’ chosen twelve can stop the mission of the church. God’s will for your life is not a corn maze where you supposed to know the end before you begin. Instead, God’s will can include pain and tragedy. And God’s purposes are invincible EVEN when things go bad.
Luke includes these ugly details to illustrate the invincible purpose of the Holy Spirit. When things go bad for you … … when there is lying, and betrayal, and yes, even death… … then you need all the help you can get to believe that the purposes of God are invincible. And that is what Luke gives us: not even Judas and Satan could undermine or escape the all-encompassing invincibility of God’s purpose. Imagine what it would have been like for Jesus if he had no way of fitting Judas into the invincible purposes of God. The point of this text is that none of the enemies of God can stop God’s will from taking place: “Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him” (John 6:64b). Can you can imagine Christ praying as follows: “I have guarded my own, and I only lost one. I can’t account for it — Judas’ treachery, his betrayal. There is no explaining it. It’s a glitch.” But Jesus did not pray that way. “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). Anyone who believes in prayer cannot be a fatalist. Again, I want to focus your next few moments at the intersection of God’s Will and God’s mission.
Here are four correct ways to seek God’s will.
You’ll Find God’s Will When You …
1. Persist in Prayer
“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (Acts 1:14)
There is Priority of Prayer all over Acts. Prayer is a big deal according to the blueprint of Acts. Prayer is mentioned thirty-one times in Acts and it’s mentioned in twenty of the twenty-eight chapters. Prayer is pictured as ongoing with every page you turn. And Acts shows us that this early church prays with greater intensity and greater frequency when the mission is being enacted. Their prayer was united as one voice, each person’s heart was in agreement!
Later when the widows are being neglected, prayer is so important the apostles reply like this: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place” (Acts 1:24-25). Prayer and knowing God’s will goes together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding…” (Colossians 1:9). When the disciples, and the other 108 people finally came together, got on the same page, focused on, pressed in, surrendered to, and gave way to God’s desires through prayer.
1. You’ll Find God’s Will When You Persist in Prayer
2. You’ll Find God’s Will When You Connect the Bible to Real Life
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Acts 1:15-17)
“For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office. (Acts 1:20)
It is evident Peter has been studying God’s Word. After studying the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit selected two passages for Peter.
The first pointed back to the past: “May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents” (Psalm 69:25). And the 2nd passage pointed ahead to what must be done: “May his days be few; may another take his office” (Psalm 109:8)! The first shows Judas was to be displaced while the second shows he must be replaced. Look at how Peter found God’s will – He looked in God’s Book. At times, the Bible is a pop-up book. The Holy Spirit can take an average reading of the Bible and make a passage pop out of the pages like a children’s pop-up book. Again, at times when you read God’s Word, there are times when the Bible feels like it is plugged in.
Hold up your Bibles with me: My Bible is alive – as I read it, it reads me. Don’t be timid in life because you’re afraid you’ll miss the will of God. Instead, be confident in God’s book to give you the wisdom to find God’s will. Here is God’s will: live your life by placing faith in Jesus Christ and obey the Word of God. You don’t need to discern God’s end from your beginning.
1. You’ll Find God’s Will When You Persist in Prayer
2. When You Connect the Bible to Real Life
3. You’ll Find God’s Will When You Return After Failure
Many of us have wasted large portions of our life. Some of you want to hit the “reset” button on your life. You're coming out of a bad job situation or marriage, and you’re wanting to hit the reset button. Perhaps you need to start over because of a really bad semester of school and you’re waiting for the letter from school informing you of your future.
The Story of Leonard Woolf
British author and publisher Leonard Woolf (1880-1969) married the famous author Virginia Woolf and authored 17 books himself. For much his life was tremendously successful; yet, Woolf himself gave the following summary of his life: “I see clearly that I achieved practically nothing.” He wrote these words at the age of 89. The world today “would be exactly the same if I had played Ping-Pong instead of sitting on committees and writing books and memoranda. I have therefore to make a rather ignominious confession that I have in a long life ground through between 150,000 and 200,000 houses of perfectly useless work.” Many of us are like this, we’ve wasted portions of our lives. So many times we ask ourselves: “What was I thinking?” When we look back, some of your decisions don’t even make sense to us.
Now, watch how Peter returns. Peter is taking the lead here just as Jesus predicted.
But pause and remember the time when Peter didn’t do God’s will for His life. Remember, Peter had failed Jesus. Now, Judas and Peter both messed up in the final hours of Jesus’ trail ahead of His crucifixion. Two men spent equal time with Jesus but came away from their encounter walking in completely two different directions for eternity. Six weeks after the resurrection, Judas is rotting in a field while Peter is leading a movement to change the world.
Are you humble like Peter or are you arrogant like Judas? It wasn’t because Peter was smarter or more resilient; it was simply because Peter repented. How did Peter turn his life around? Peter repented because He recalled the steadfast love of the Lord: “When I thought, ‘My foot slips,’ your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up” (Psalm 94:18). See the face of Jesus now. Don’t hang yourself in regret but soften your heart by seeing His love.
1. You’ll Find God’s Will When You Persist in Prayer
2. When You Connect the Bible to Real Life
3. When You Return After Failure
4. You’ll Find God’s Will When You Want God’s Will for Your Life
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.” (Acts 1:22-23)
I am not the first to point out that the original word for “witness” in verse 22, is literally the word martyr. Originally, martyr meant a witness. “I martyred her talking to the other women at the market,” was “I witnessed her talking to the other women at the market.” But soon, the word martyr transitioned to dying as result of telling others what I witnessed. So many of the early Christians died as a result of telling what they had witnessed so now the word witness means dying as a result of a cause. When the 120 are looking for a Judas’ replacement, we need to remember that Jesus had died just weeks before. There was a distinct possibility Matthias would die as a result of assuming this office.
Do you want the will of God? Do you really think you’re going to be successful in converting God to your life’s mission? You’re never going to convince God to come over to your life’s mission. The enemy of the Great Commission is comfort; I want to be comfortable. “Pastor, we are not comfortable!” I find that some people don’t want the Great Commission. Some people don’t want the will of God for their lives. When you are at the intersection of God’s will and God’s mission, you are right where God wants you to be.
1. You’re Doing God’s Will When You Persist in Prayer
2. You’re Doing God’s Will When Connect the Bible to Real Life
3. You’re Doing God’s Will When You Return After Failure
4. You’re Doing God’s Will When Want You God’s Will
