1 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:11,400 The disciples were united in what? 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:17,240 In their desire to obey God. Man, if a church can unite, we 3 00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:21,000 get together and we unite, say we're going to obey God, 2026 4 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,480 we're going to be in one accord with their obedience. 5 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:28,520 That church becomes dangerous, powerful. 6 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:35,600 Notice the disciples are no longer arguing or fighting. 7 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:37,600 Who's the greatest? Who's going to be serving where? 8 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:39,960 Who's going to be seated at the right hand of Jesus when the 9 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,760 Kingdom of age comes? What had changed? 10 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:50,040 The resurrected Jesus in their hearts now was greater than any 11 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:55,880 difference they'd had before. And notice it says they all 12 00:00:56,040 --> 00:01:02,560 prayed they all prayed each time on many times I've put out on 13 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,560 Twitter that we're meeting tonight and I go, you know, it's 14 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:10,920 the church that prays a church prays the definition of a church 15 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,120 is the people of God and part of the definition of the people of 16 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:19,480 God is that they pray all continued. 17 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,120 It says the scripture with 1 accord in what? 18 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:28,920 In pray? In our text tonight we have the 19 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,160 formula for making godly decisions. 20 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,440 Man, isn't that what we want to do? 21 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:40,240 God, what do I do? Do I go out with that person? 22 00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:43,440 Do I make this relationship serious? 23 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,760 Do I take that job? Do I move the kids to the 24 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,200 school? What ministry do you want me to 25 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,440 go into? We have all these decisions and 26 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:58,640 they continue to come up. How do we make godly decisions? 27 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:07,640 One, we'll see is 3 points. To make a godly decision. 28 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:12,880 The formula is X = 1. Be obedient to what God 29 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:14,760 commands. That's the first thing. 30 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:20,280 Two, be in fellowship with the body of Christ. 31 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,200 You go, how's that work? You'll see. 32 00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:29,000 And three, be in prayer together with the church in one accord. 33 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:35,200 So they're praying, they're together, they've been obedient, 34 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,200 they're waiting upon the Lord in one accord. 35 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,400 Peter steps up verse 15. And in those days Peter stood up 36 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,880 in the midst of the disciples. Altogether the number of the 37 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:51,120 names was about 120. So there's 120 of them praying 38 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:59,720 and said, men, brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled 39 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:06,240 with the Holy Spirit, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the 40 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:11,560 mouth of David concerning Judas. So David gave Scripture 41 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:17,200 concerning what was going to happen with Judas Iscariot, who 42 00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:22,640 became a guide to those arrested, who arrested Jesus. 43 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:28,520 For he was numbered with us. He was part of us and obtained a 44 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,760 part of this ministry. He was working with us, serving 45 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:33,840 with us. Verse 18. 46 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,120 Now this man purchased the field with the wages of iniquity. 47 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:45,920 Judas falling headlong, he burst open into in the middle all his 48 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,760 entrails gushed out and it became known to all those 49 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:53,640 dwelling in Jerusalem. So that field is called in their 50 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:58,560 own language, Akhaldama. That is field of blood verse 20 51 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:06,120 Peter now quotes Scripture on what he's about to say to the 52 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,600 rest of the disciples on on the basis of now what we're going to 53 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,520 do. I refer the Scripture to support 54 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,000 what is written in the book of Psalms. 55 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:18,880 Let his dwelling place be desolate. 56 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:23,840 Let no one live in it and let another take his office. 57 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:28,600 So Peter steps up into a position of leadership, but not 58 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,680 as the Catholic churches endure, saying that everyone, every Pope 59 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:33,880 now follows along the line of Peter. 60 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,080 Nothing to do with that. That's a a man made religious 61 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,880 system. Peter's knowledge of the 62 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:44,880 Scripture, he's a fisherman, is noticeable here, and we'll see 63 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,040 it also when he preaches his first sermon under the power of 64 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,160 the Holy Spirit. Peter is a man of the Word. 65 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:57,040 He's an ordinary fisherman, but he's a man of the Word of God. 66 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,880 He was not a blithering idiot. He was a man of the Scriptures. 67 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:06,200 He knew the Scriptures, and it's noticeable here and how 68 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,560 wonderful Peter refers to Scripture. 69 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:14,320 He is a man of the Word of God. Peter tells us that Judas did 70 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,440 not spoil God's plan. Oh well, this shouldn't have 71 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:23,920 happened. In fact, what he did was part of 72 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:25,560 what God had prophesied would happen. 73 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:29,200 This scripture had to be fulfilled and many people go see 74 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,560 poor old Jesus. He had no control. 75 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,400 No, no, no stop. Judas had complete control. 76 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:40,760 He had a choice and he chose to to betray the Lord. 77 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:46,440 He wasn't forced. He chose to obey Satan. 78 00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:51,320 Satan filled him because Judas all the way along, remember they 79 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:55,120 knew he was ripping them off. He was the money bag man and he 80 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:59,760 was taken from all the time he was taking money from the the 81 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:03,080 gatherings of money that was looked after that Judas looked 82 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:07,240 after the funds. Judas wasn't like oh he he was 83 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,760 just born into this and he had no choice over the matter. 84 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,640 No Judas had a choice. He chose to follow Satan. 85 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,640 Remember he went out into the dark, into the night and Satan 86 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:23,240 filled entered his soul. But God knew the plan over all 87 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,240 and part of the plan is that Jesus would be betrayed. 88 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:30,960 Judas was the man that was going to do that. 89 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:35,440 The location of his burial is known as the field of blood. 90 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,120 Why is that? Because it was purchased with 91 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:43,680 the blood money given to Judas as the reward to betray Jesus. 92 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:49,800 Now, the disciples had been in prayer and one of those things 93 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:54,760 that they had taken to the Lord was the vagancy by Judas because 94 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:58,880 12 remembers the number of government, 12 tribes, and 12 is 95 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:00,720 always significant throughout the Bible. 96 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:08,080 So they had been praying about, well, there's a guy missing, 97 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,960 we're down one. Jesus is no longer with them to 98 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,440 give them personal directions. This is the first time they're 99 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,720 going to make a decision. Every other time they just go, 100 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,800 Jesus, what do we do about this? That would be great, wouldn't 101 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,800 it? But they were not without the 102 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:30,800 leading of the Lord because change had come and they were 103 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:35,080 learning to lean on the direction of the Lord. 104 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:40,040 How would they make a decision now about who was going to fill 105 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:44,440 this position? Because Peter has quoted 2 106 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:52,920 Psalms that David wrote both. How are they going to work out 107 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:55,760 who's going to fill takeover Judas's position? 108 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,760 They had the word of God. That's how you make a decision. 109 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,000 And they had prayer. They had those two things 110 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,280 already so they could make a decision. 111 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,840 You need the word of God and you need prayer. 112 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,680 Too many people. I mean, it just staggers me. 113 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,080 The people who don't read the Bible. 114 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,240 I say to people overnight, are you reading your Bible? 115 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,680 Are you reading your Bible? No, no, you're, you're like a 116 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:26,600 blind man in a darkened room looking for a black cat that 117 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,960 doesn't exist. I just, it's just dangerous. 118 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,440 You need the word of God every day. 119 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,320 Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that 120 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:38,840 proceeds out of the mouth of God. 121 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:41,600 It's not. We read the Bible because it's a 122 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,640 religious thing that we do. We read the Bible because God 123 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,320 speaks to us and He guides us through it. 124 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:50,720 They had the word of God and they had prayer. 125 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,640 It would be these that form the foundation of the ministry 126 00:08:54,800 --> 00:09:01,080 throughout all the book of Acts. Should Peter and the others have 127 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,160 waited for the spirit that was soon to be given? 128 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,720 That's often a question that's raised about this passage. 129 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,160 No, Why? For remember that the Lord had 130 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:15,640 previously breathed upon the disciples, imparted the Spirit 131 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,040 of God to them. John 20 verse 22 when he had 132 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,160 said this, He breathed on them. He said to them, receive the 133 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:26,280 Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit is to come on Pentecost. 134 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:28,680 Jesus has been for 40 days and 40. 135 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:33,880 It's been seen over a period of more than 10 * / 40 days by more 136 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:37,960 than 400 people. Ten days later, Pentecost, 50 137 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:42,040 days, the Holy Spirit is about to fall in power for a 138 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,200 particular reason. And so when the Holy Spirit is 139 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:49,360 to come at Pentecost, it was for the purpose of filling them with 140 00:09:49,560 --> 00:09:54,760 this dynamic power, baptising them into the one Body of 141 00:09:54,760 --> 00:10:00,400 Christ, the birth of the Church. When Peter referred to David's 142 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:06,240 two psalms, and they are Psalm 69 verse 25 and Psalm 109 verse 143 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:10,800 8, Peter is being led by the Spirit of God. 144 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:17,560 Now King David wrote both psalms that were quoted. 145 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:21,360 David knew what it was like to be betrayed by another. 146 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:27,040 When when David was living as a fugitive from King Saul, there 147 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:33,960 was this man called Doeg who betrayed David in one Samuel 21 148 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,680 and 22. You'll read of this this fellow 149 00:10:37,680 --> 00:10:41,880 called Doeg and then his betrayal of David and many 150 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:43,960 innocent people died as a result. 151 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:48,520 And it's believed that David penned the Psalm as a as a 152 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:55,720 result of Doeg's betrayal. David now many claim, and it's 153 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:01,440 well done too now, that it would be the apostle Paul who was to 154 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:07,840 fill the 12th position. But the disciples chose Matthias 155 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,400 and also we never hear of him again. 156 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,240 So that just proves that Paul is the one. 157 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,720 Well that's many people believe that and that's a fine way of 158 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:25,560 thinking, but in fact, except for Peter and John, none of the 159 00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:29,920 original 12 are mentioned by name in the book of Acts after 160 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,240 chapter one, verse 13, we don't hear of anyone else. 161 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:36,640 So we can't just say, well no one heard of Matthias enter 162 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:38,640 again, we didn't hear of anybody else either. 163 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,360 Whoever was to fill this position needed to have been 164 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:49,040 with them since John baptised them, to have stayed with them 165 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,320 during the days of Jesus earthly ministry. 166 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,560 And three saw the resurrect of Jesus. 167 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,360 Verse 21. There for all these men who have 168 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:01,040 accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out 169 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,800 amongst us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when 170 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:06,480 He was taken up from us, He ascended. 171 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:10,080 One of these must become a witness with us of His 172 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:14,600 resurrection. What told them that they should 173 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,800 use these qualifications to choose who was going to take 174 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:23,840 Judas's place? We hear it used rarely today. 175 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,160 It's called sanctified common sense. 176 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,600 Many people say, well, the Bible doesn't tell me if I'm to take 177 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,280 that job or that job or that job. 178 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,760 Sanctified common sense. Prayer and the Word of God, the 179 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:40,160 leading of the Word of God sanctified common sense. 180 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,240 There was no direct revelation from God. 181 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:48,200 Their common sense was blessed. Why? 182 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:51,640 Because one, they were living in obedience. 183 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,200 Thou were where Jesus wanted them to be, doing what they were 184 00:12:55,480 --> 00:13:01,480 asked to do 2 They were in fellowship in one accord. 3 They 185 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:07,480 were in prayer, seeking God's will for what they're to be 186 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:11,680 praying about and seeking. They were in the word, Peter 187 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:17,520 quotes the passages and they were desiring God's will. 188 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:20,640 They wanted to do God's will. One of the things that really 189 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,600 hung me up as a new Christian was this. 190 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:28,160 I was frightened to death of making a mistake as a Christian 191 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:33,200 now that I was a believer of doing the wrong thing, like, OK, 192 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,400 God, Keith, do this. You're an idiot. 193 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:40,360 You made the wrong decision. I was terrified really, as a 194 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:45,440 husband, father, how do I make sure now as a believer I don't 195 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:50,880 make stupid decisions? And you know what was behind it? 196 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:56,840 My thinking that God would go. You are an idiot, Keith. 197 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,280 You made a dumb decision like that. 198 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:04,080 The moment I made a wrong decision, he would just come in 199 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,960 on me. Poor perception of the character 200 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,240 of God. Think of the character of God as 201 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:13,880 the father of the prodigal son. He didn't go, you idiot. 202 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:17,760 You want to take my money now you want to go off and burn it 203 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:21,440 on riotous living or oh, you want to come back now? 204 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,840 You want to hang out with us? You're blown all your money, you 205 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,720 idiot. You see, here's the deal. 206 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:31,600 We make mistakes. God knows we're frail. 207 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,320 And here's the deal. But if you're making mistake 208 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,680 after you've been in the Word of God and you've prayed and you 209 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:41,600 make a mistake, you know what? God's going to go. 210 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:43,960 He's not going to wipe you off. He will correct it. 211 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,240 Why? Because that's what you and I do 212 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:50,520 as fathers and mothers do. Our kids don't we go, I mean, 213 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:54,200 you're in grade 3 now and you made that dumb mistake, you 214 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,440 idiot. Imagine if parenting was like 215 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,000 that. Do kids ever make wrong 216 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:08,320 mistakes? And thus 2 men were narrowed 217 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:14,320 down to fill the position verse 23 and they proposed 2 who met 218 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:19,280 the three quite criteria. Joseph called Bastabus, who is 219 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:24,480 surnamed Justice, and Matthias. So what do they do? 220 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:26,440 I mention they 2 the two of these guys. 221 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,840 What do the rest of the 120 do? I'm 118 now. 222 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:32,720 They prayed. Wow, looks like they're going to 223 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,920 make a dumb decision. No, they're trying to do the 224 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:39,160 right thing. They prayed and said, You, O 225 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:43,200 Lord, know the heart. You who know the hearts of all, 226 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:47,760 show us which of these two you have chosen. 227 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:54,320 Take part in this ministry. An apostleship from which Judas 228 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:59,640 by transgression fell that he might go to his own place. 229 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:04,960 So they prayed. Notice that they prayed first 230 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,360 and it's easy to pray. Why? 231 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,520 Because they had already been praying. 232 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:11,960 Was like, oh, now we're going to pray. 233 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:17,520 They've already been praying. Back in verse 14, when Jesus 234 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:19,600 chose the disciples, what did he do? 235 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,680 Spend the night and pray, didn't He before he chose them? 236 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,760 And so they're following what Jesus had done. 237 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:31,160 Verse 26. Now here's wow, wow, this is the 238 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:35,720 spanner in the works. And they cast their lots, and 239 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,040 the lot fell on Matthias and he was numbered with the 11 240 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,240 apostles. Well, isn't this a doozy? 241 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:47,000 Completely against all that they've been so diligent to do. 242 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,120 Is this any way to choose an apostle? 243 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,480 They chose a method, a method that would make them rely upon 244 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,120 God. Very similar to the Urim and the 245 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:07,920 Thummim, black and a white rock. Proverbs 1633 says the lot is 246 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:12,280 cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord. 247 00:17:13,079 --> 00:17:18,839 The casting of lots may be imperfect, an imperfect way to 248 00:17:18,839 --> 00:17:22,119 discern God's will. I I, I believe, and I'll agree 249 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,920 to that, but let me just back this up. 250 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:33,480 Is it not better than many modern believers use today to 251 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,880 get the direction of God? What what do people and people 252 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:42,080 have said these things? Well, my my, my emotions are 253 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:52,160 telling me good or the circumstances and I always 254 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,320 that's a funny one. All the doors and you know, got 255 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:57,160 opens doors, but he also closes doors. 256 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:58,720 But you know who else opens doors? 257 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:04,960 Come with me, come into this place, enter in Satan opens 258 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:10,280 doors as well feelings I just sensed. 259 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:16,440 Oh, and carnal desires because that's what the majority of 260 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:21,160 people use today for making decisions about the things of 261 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:26,680 God. That's why marriages 7.2 years, 262 00:18:27,120 --> 00:18:31,560 average marriage inside the church and outside the church. 263 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:38,040 And the lot fell upon Matthias. Was he the right man for the 264 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:39,520 job? Good question. 265 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,080 Many say no and the use of lots was not right. 266 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:50,000 Let us, however, respect the testimony of the Scriptures in 267 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:54,080 this passage. Even though we read nothing more 268 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,440 of Matthias, As I said before, we should not assume he was a 269 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:02,120 dud. I mean, they went through 270 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:05,640 diligence, didn't they? They sought the Lord they'd been 271 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:10,960 praying for. Matthias is no more of a dud 272 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:14,640 than Matthew, Andrew or Thomas, who we never here mentioned 273 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:21,760 again, or any of the others. The apostle Paul, by the way, 274 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,840 for those who say he's the 12th, and I understand that argument, 275 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:31,280 considered himself an apostle, yes, but he says one born out of 276 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:35,560 due time, 1 Corinthians 15/8. That's what he said of himself. 277 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,960 He never raised any objections over Matthias. 278 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,680 He said, man, you dummies should never pick Matthias. 279 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:49,080 It's going to be me as we close this unique passage and as we 280 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,760 really look at it. No one can fault what the 281 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:54,840 disciples did before they cast lots. 282 00:19:56,520 --> 00:20:00,560 We must believe that all these things put them in the place 283 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,600 where God would truly guide their decision. 284 00:20:04,120 --> 00:20:06,600 You see, you and I make decisions, don't we? 285 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:14,240 And I tell you before making decision. 286 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:21,520 Hated it. But now I seek the Lord, I seek 287 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:26,720 his word, and then I believe I make the decision. 288 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,040 And you know what God does? He corrects it. 289 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:34,200 If it's wrong, He fixes it. Isn't that what we do with our 290 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,400 kids? We fix up their problems. 291 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,120 We we help them direct. Isn't that what the scriptures 292 00:20:39,120 --> 00:20:40,480 are about? All scripture is given by 293 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:44,440 inspiration of God for correcting, instructing, for 294 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:46,760 telling us what's true and then keeping us what's true. 295 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,800 We would not make any wrong decisions if we make if we 296 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,800 followed. I believe the disciples godly 297 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,520 diligence. So let's let's let's go through 298 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:01,160 these points again. It's a great learning for making 299 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:07,040 wise decisions. 1 The disciples obeyed the Lord's commands. 300 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:10,680 People come up to us and you know, we're thinking of getting 301 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:12,160 married, I think, and going out with this boy. 302 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,760 And 1st question is, are they Christian? 303 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:19,760 Well, so already we have a clash. 304 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,960 We have a clash with Scripture. So you can't, you can't. 305 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,320 The Bible speaks clearly about it or the Bible says, you know, 306 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,360 I'm going to do this. And the Scriptures just 307 00:21:29,360 --> 00:21:31,360 blatantly says you don't do that. 308 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,000 Secondly, the disciples fellowshipped, when you're a 309 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:49,160 Lone Ranger, you're in danger because you are easily persuaded 310 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:50,840 and LED. You're not in the gathering of 311 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:54,800 those or someone who just gives you a verse or you're with the 312 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,040 body of Christ and together and those of you here tonight, 313 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,680 you'll learn from others and go, yeah, I know, but you're not 314 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:03,120 thinking about doing. Let me pray for you. 315 00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:06,480 Let me pray about the decision. Hold fast. 316 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:08,720 And they might even just say hold off for a minute. 317 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:11,120 Don't, don't go ahead with that. Let's just pray about it. 318 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:18,000 Thirdly, they prayed. So someone comes up to me and 319 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:19,240 says, are we going to decide this? 320 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:20,240 I go. Have you prayed about it? 321 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:22,880 Oh, yeah, yeah, we've prayed about it. 322 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:27,600 No, no, no. Have you prayed that God has his 323 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:31,160 way in this decision, that he can say no? 324 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:35,000 Or have you prayed and gone God? We'll, this is what we're going 325 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,440 to do. You've already made your 326 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,200 decision. You're going to go ahead and do 327 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,000 it anyway. But we prayed about it, you 328 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:48,720 know, good, good luck. Fourthly, they were, they were 329 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:53,480 in the word led by Peter. Peter didn't just pick a couple 330 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:58,040 of scriptures out of the blue. He picks 2 psalms given to him, 331 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,040 I believe by the direction of the of the Holy Spirit. 332 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:10,000 And they deal with amazingly the office of Judas and betrayal. 333 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:17,360 How beautiful is that? Fifthly, the disciples decide 334 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:20,800 desired to do the will of God, just like Jesus prayed in the 335 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,320 garden. Father, not my will, but thine 336 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:26,480 put that at the end of every script. 337 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:32,840 But really mean it really mean that, but not what I want to do. 338 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,760 But what do you want to do? They use sanctified common 339 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:39,800 sense. You know, some people come up to 340 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:43,000 me and and they go, oh, we're going to do this and I go that 341 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,200 just without that just sounds stupid. 342 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:49,480 What you're planning to do it just it sounds a dumb move. 343 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:54,160 Just it just it just does it doesn't have anything ringing 344 00:23:54,160 --> 00:24:00,600 right to it. And I prayed and followed Jesus 345 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,680 patent. They did what Jesus would do and 346 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,880 I often do that man that's caught me out just really 347 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:09,680 lightly. I, I, I really concentrate on 348 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:13,280 what would Jesus do when I'm in the pulpit now, I used to talk a 349 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,600 lot of rubbish. You go, you still do a lot of 350 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:20,000 times, but one of the things that I'm really careful is would 351 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:25,880 Jesus say that? What would Jesus do in that 352 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,840 situation with that person? What would Jesus do? 353 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:36,120 What would Jesus do in this very place that I am now? 354 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:39,720 It's and you know what? Usually you have a pretty good 355 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:43,680 idea what Jesus would do. He'd walk out, walk away, have 356 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:45,400 nothing to do. He wouldn't even be there. 357 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:47,520 He wouldn't be even contemplating it. 358 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:56,760 Lastly, the disciples did what they could to rely on God's 359 00:24:56,760 --> 00:25:00,320 leading their decision. They placed it all before the 360 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:05,240 Lord, said Lord, have your way, have your way. 361 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,360 And there was nothing that happened here that was abrupt. 362 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,080 You know, there's no, well, this ain't going to happen. 363 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:18,600 The first didn't drop dead. It wasn't a big argument. 364 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:32,400 You see the desire to rely upon God's leading that will keep you 365 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:36,560 in good stead. I just want to do what God wants 366 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:38,360 me to do. You have that? 367 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:43,560 Then God's not a rude, terrible God, is he? 368 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:48,560 He's a loving Father and He will help you and guide you. 369 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,320 What's your image of God? Is He waiting for you to make a 370 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:56,320 dumb decision, or is He going to help you along the way? 371 00:25:56,320 --> 00:26:01,920 As long as you're obedient to what He asked you to do, make a 372 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:08,080 incorrect decision, He'll bring you back. 373 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:11,920 He'll bring you back. Father, we thank you for Your 374 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:16,520 word. Help us, Lord, as a church. 375 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:22,400 Help us in our marriages. Help us as mums and dads, 376 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:27,880 husbands and wives. Help us as followers of you to 377 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:32,680 walk circumspectly and not as fools. 378 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:37,840 Like the people of the world, let us not be led by our 379 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:43,000 feelings, our emotions, but let us be led by your word. 380 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:49,040 And as we pray, intercede and direct our prayer to these 381 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:55,040 things we ask now in Jesus name, Amen. 382 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:55,560 Amen.