ACTS: ALIGNING WITH GOD'S SOVEREIGN WORK OF DISCIPLING

II. Being Productive While Waiting On The Lord

(Acts 1:15-26)

I. Introduction

A. The book of Acts explains "the orderly and sovereignly directed progress of the kingdom message from Jews to Gentiles, and from Jerusalem to Rome," Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament, p. 351.

B. Accordingly, we can learn much about aligning our ministry efforts with God's sovereign work from studying the Early Church era as presented in the book of Acts.

C. Acts 1:15-26 examples how we should be productive while waiting on the Lord, and we view it for insight:

II. Being Productive While Waiting On The Lord, Acts 1:15-26.

A. After Jesus had told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come upon them, spiritually baptizing them to equip them to witness for Him throughout the world (Acts 1:4-5, 8), the Lord had ascended to heaven, leaving the disciples no option but to return from the Mount of Olives where Christ had ascended to heaven and there wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit's arrival upon them, Acts 1:9-13.

B. While waiting upon God in Jerusalem, they spent their time in prayer, Acts 1:14.

C. However, a vacancy in the ranks of the disciples needed to be filled, and having it filled before the Holy Spirit's arrival was important in view of God's plan, Acts 1:15-20 (as follows):

1. Back in Matthew 19:28, Jesus had predicted that His twelve disciples would sit on twelve thrones in the Messianic Kingdom ruling over the twelve tribes of Israel.

2. However, Judas Iscariot, one of the initial twelve, had lost his place among the disciples, and it needed to be filled that Christ's Matthew 19:28 promise might be fulfilled, Acts 1:15-20 (B. K. C., N. T., p. 356):

a. Peter stood up amid the 120 believers gathered in Jerusalem to announce that Scripture had to be fulfilled regarding Judas Iscariot's removal from office as a disciple due to his betrayal of Jesus, Acts 1:15-16:

b. Judas was initially numbered with the twelve disciples and had obtained a part of their ministry, but in betraying Jesus and feeling remorseful about it, a field had been purchased with the reward he had obtained from the religious leaders for betraying Jesus, and he had committed suicide there, Acts 1:17-18. [Judas did not personally buy the field, but it was purchased indirectly with the betrayal money Judas had flung into the temple upon feeling remorse over betraying Jesus, Matthew 27:3-10; Ibid. Also, seemingly conflicting reports on Judas' death can be harmonized by the explanation that he attempted to hang himself (Matthew 27:5), but the attempt failed so that he fell, and his body burst open (Acts 1:18-19); Ibid.]

c. Peter then alluded to Psalm 69:25 and 109:8 that predicted the foes of the Davidic King – in this case Christ – were to have their offices filled by others, Acts 1:20. (Ryrie St. Bib., KJV, 1978, ftn. to Acts 1:20)

D. Accordingly, Peter recommended that candidates for this Jewish office as a disciple of Christ who would one day rule in the Messianic Kingdom over a tribe in Israel be chosen of God to fill Judas' vacancy, Acts 1:21. The qualifications included following Jesus throughout His earthly ministry starting with the baptism of John and ending with Christ's ascension and who had especially witnessed Christ's resurrection, Acts 1:21-22.

E. Two men were found to fit these qualifications – Joseph (alias Barsabas and Justus) and Matthias, Acts 1:23.

F. To discern God's will, the believers prayed for God's choice to be clear (Acts 1:24-25) and cast lots, what Old Testament believers before the Spirit's coming would do to discern God's will, Proverbs 16:33. (Acts 1:26a)

G. The lot fell on Matthias, so he was numbered with the other eleven apostles, the office of Judas Iscariot being filled so that the promise of Matthew 19:28 might be fulfilled.

Lesson: While waiting for God to lead them into their worldwide witnessing ministry predicted in Acts 1:8, the disciples realized that the vacancy of office left by Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Christ and death Biblically needed to be filled with another man for God's Matthew 19:28 promise to be fulfilled. Thus, while absent the Holy Spirit's special gifting, the disciples functioned under Old Testament practices of prayerfully selecting candidates for office who had witnessed Christ's ministry from beginning to end, especially His resurrection, a cornerstone belief of the faith, and then they prayerfully cast lots in accord with Scripture to discern and to accept God's choice.

Application: (1) While we wait on God to lead us in some realm, if we realize that we should address a need that Scripture indicates we should address, we should address it in a Biblical way. (2) We should also use common sense just as the disciples chose candidates to replace Judas who fulfilled the qualifications that the other eleven apostles had. (3) We should take these steps prayerfully, being open for God's correction at each step that we take.