Making Sense of God's Strange Paln
Acts (To Be Continued...) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsHow do we make sense of God's plan in our lives and this world? Does it ever seem like God's plan is strange and unexpected? The early followers of Jesus were trying to make sense of God's plan as Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and they tried to make sense of Judas betraying Jesus. What can we learn from God about this? And what can we learn about God's plan in our lives? This passage will help us make sense of God's strange plan.
Notes
Transcript
Honoring Kate....
Praying for those who got baptized...
Please turn to Acts 1:12. Acts 1:12.
Do you ever think about God’s plan in your life...
Do you ever wonder what is He up to in your life?
I have wondered that at times…I have seen God’s plan be surprising...
I once told God “I would never plant a church...” and that’s what we did before we moved here.
and I told him like many of you growing up here… “I can’t wait to leave…I will never live in Berne...” but here we ar...
so I told God “I will never win the lottery...”
God’s plan is surprising...
it can also be discouraging or at the very least confusing...
because sometimes he does seem to bring great victory…but sometimes He doesn’t (at least as we define it)
He may not answer our prayer request or do what we want…and we have to wait.
If I were in charge, I would run the universe, or at least my life, very differently.
God’s plan just doesn’t make sense sometimes in my life—it’s now how I would expect—somethings is good...
sometimes we can see the reasons why...
sometimes we can’t.
how do we make sense of God’s strange plan?
This is our 2nd sermon in this amazing book.
and it’s called “To be continued...”
b/c the book of Acts is actually volume 2. the Gospel of Luke is volume 1. Luke wrote both. and Luke mentions that volume 1 was about what Jesus began to do and teach, and so volume 2—Acts is what Jesus continues to do.
and it’s also about us—b/c what Jesus does in and through the Holy Spirit in the church—is what He continues to do today—and we need to be open how God wants to write our story now---
Last week—we saw Jesus give us his mission---our why—the reason we exist—to go and be his witnesses—we have power—the Holy Spirit enabling us to do it.
and Jesus told those early disciples to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit...
and now we see what happens next...
let’s stand
Acts 1:12–26 (NIV)
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.
(btw—b/c Luke mentions this detail—we think he is writing to non-Jews—to Gentiles. Jews would have known about the Mt. of Olives…and btw—the Sabbath’s day walk is about 3000 ft. distance—it was a law the teachers of the law made up (not found in the Bible) that that was the farthest you could walk on the Sabbath without doing “work.”
13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
(did you catch how many were there? 11—who is missing? Judas)(and this room where they are gathered may be the same room that Jesus had the Last Supper with his disciples)
14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
this is remarkable—women played a key role in the start of Christianity—in a day and age when women were often 2nd class citizens.
also remarkable that Mary, the mother of Jesus is mentioned—it’s the last time she is mentioned in the Bible)
and his brothers—who John 7 says didn’t believe in Jesus—but now do. We know Jesus had 4 brothers—James, Judas, Joseph, and Simon.
and they are waiting for the gift Jesus promised.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)
(this is amazing too—Peter had just denied Jesus about 40 plus days earlier—and now under the grace of God---he is leading that small group of believers—who would turn the Roman Empire upside down)
16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas (this is how the doctrine of inspiration of Scripture worked—the Holy Spirit inspired human authors to write God’s Word), who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.
17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.
(we joked as a staff that this must be written for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade boys. What did you learn at church?
Judas’ intestines spilled out....
some people question this passage
because Matthew 27 says Judas killed himself by hanging himself, so the Bible must contradict itself...
but you can harmonize like this---it is possible that after he died, and was hanging there, the rope burst, and he did fall headlong, and in that fall, his intestines spilled out.
19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,
22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
this is a very specific definition of an apostle—must have been with Jesus the whole time—the Lord Jesus was in his ministry—and also an eyewitness of his resurrection.
the early apostles played a key role as witnesses of Jesus, and even writing the NT.
in this sense—we no longer see apostles like this today or beyond that 1st century. Ephesians 2 says the church is built on the foundation of the apostles.
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”
26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
(and Joseph was very offended and never came back to church)
no…casting lots…was a method used in the OT for determining God’s will. possibly by shaking a jar filled with marked stones until one came out…almost like spiritual dice...
we read in Nehemiah that when the Israelites resettled Jerusalem, they cast lots to determine who would be there....
This is a strange passage....of all the passages we read in the Book of Acts—when we think about how exciting it is…this is NOT one of them.
and yet all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness…even a passage like this.
and I think the part that really connects with this---is the idea of making sense of God’s strange plan.
if you were here Wednesday night for your story matters, one of the themes I heard was God’s plan.
One couple—when Mark and Michelle McIntosh shared...Michelle was honest how she loves having a plan, especially her own plan. Loves things in a row—loves her ducks in a row, so when she senses God is moving in her life, possibly calling her to do something different, she can be hesitant. I think many of us can relate to that.
Listening to Earl Hough share on Wednesday night…I noticed this theme as well…as God had a plan for Him in spite of his own plans. How God never gave up on him…and God is now using Earl as a school resource officer for his glory.
or listening to Beth Edwards share about Her and her husband Max’s sad loss of their son in utero—how God has a plan even through suffering.
this area of God’s plan—and discerning it, is one of the biggest areas I hear from you....how do I discern God’s plan? how do I know what God is up to it?
the area I want to focus on is —how do we make sense of God’s strange plan in our life, unexpected plan, especially when it is hard.
You think of the early group of believers here in the upper room.
Jesus died—on the cross…that was sad. (that was an unexpected plan for their standpoint—not God’s)
then He rose bodily from the grave—proving He is the Son of God and our sins can be forgiven—death is defeated.
but then 40 days later, He ascended to heaven. Jesus is really gone.
and now they are WAITING for the gift the Father promised—the Holy Spirit. waiting stinks.
and they are also trying to make sense of this weird plan…b/c shouldn’t Jesus’ resurrection mean that sin is now done, death is defeated, Israel is winning? no…Jesus told them that his kingdom is spread by witnessing…the good news about Jesus…not the sword or politics.
the kingdom of God has come—but not fully…
it’s got to be confusing
and then Judas....
Judas was one of the 12 apostles that Jesus specifically chose to follow Him and be with Him and learn from Him.
Jesus specifically handpicked him—to follow him.
they spent 3 years together with Jesus
Judas was trustworthy—in charge of the money…the church treasurer....
Judas saw Jesus heal the blind, walk on water, feed the 5,000…raise the dead…hear Jesus’ teaching
how could Judas betray Jesus?
how could they as his friends...not notice the signs that he would do this—how could they be duped by their friend?
how could THIS be God’s plan?
God wasn’t surprised by this.
Jesus specifically said Judas would betray...
at the last supper—look at this...
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
so how do we make sense of God’s plan when it is discouraging and confusing?
Pray…that may seem obvious....
Jesus had told them earlier in chapter 1 to wait for the gift my Father promised...
we know from the time Jesus goes up to heaven until the Spirit comes—there is a 10 day period...
and He didn’t tell them how long it would be...
so they gather....and part of the time…they pray
not alone—it’s in community—120....
look at verse 14 again
14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
it’s united prayer…it’s communal—you don’t have to pray alone when the plan is confusing...
it’s persevering prayer---as they wait…which we hate.
we hate to wait...
they pray.
if you are here today and struggling with God’s plan—or at least it is confusing---we learn from the early church that we are called to pray...
Jesus did this…when he was about to go to the cross....struggling with the plan that the Trinity—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—had decided...
and it makes all the difference—prayer is a time to be real, to listen and wait on God—to be reminded of HIs promises.
one scholar says it like this—God had commanded them to wait—He promised the Holy Spirit…but God’s promises do not render prayer null and void. On the contrary, it is only His promises that give us the warrant to pray and the confidence that He will hear and answer (Stott, Acts, page 54)
are you praying through God’s plan? are you incorporating his promises in your prayers? Are you waiting on God in prayer?
we see later in the chapter they pray....
24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”
they don’t let prayer stop them from making a decision—they decide—but it is bathed in prayer
the 2nd one is a little more surprising
Read Scripture with Jesus at the center (vs. 16-17, 20)
look at verses 16-17, 20
16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.
17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
and then Peter quotes Scripture in kind of a strange way
Acts 1:20 (NIV)
20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ (Psalm 69) and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’ (Psalm 109)
remember—Peter is quoting from the OT (they didn’t have the NT) from Psalms to justify their decision.
and it’s really strange…because we don’t usually think of the book of Psalms as having fulfillment.
when we think of OT verses having fulfillment—we think of verses like Micah 5:2
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Jesus was born in Bethlehem...
but now that Jesus has come and died, and rose, and ascended—he spent 40 days with them.
Jesus said specifically after his resurrection that all Scripture, including the OT is about Him.
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
later Jesus said in Luke 24:44
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
the entire OT is about Jesus…including the Psalms—even though they never mention the name Jesus…or Judas for that matter.
but they all point to Jesus Christ in a multitude of ways...
i have talked about this some—especially in our Wednesday nights…that the temple in the OT—pointed to Jesus. Jesus is the temple to end all temples—the place where God and man come together.
the priests in the OT — pointed to Jesus—Jesus is the priest to end all priests—the ultimate mediator. no more needed.
Jesus is the sacrifice—all the animal sacrifices in the OT — pointed to Jesus—Jesus is the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.
and it’s true with a lot of characters in the OT—lots of parallels with Jesus’ life…King David—God made a big promise that He would always have a descendant on the throne forever—He is a man after God’s own heart—the Messiah is expected to come in His line...
and there are many parallels between David’s life and Jesus…if all of Scripture is about Jesus....
the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus
both were born in Bethlehem
both were called beloved by God...
both were exemplary in following God from an early age—David with defeating Goliath—Jesus in the temple at 12
both spent time in the wilderness
both had many enemies
Colin Smith…Unlocking the Bible series:
Ahithophel’s desertion brought great pain to the heart of David: “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me” (Ps. 41:9).
If these words sound familiar, it is because Jesus quoted them at the Last Supper with reference to Judas: “The Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me’” (John 13:18).
When David fled, he crossed the brook Kidron (2 Sam. 15:23). Then he went up the Mount of Olives, weeping (15:30). Jesus too crossed the brook Kidron after the Last Supper (John 18:1). A little farther was a garden called Gethsemane. He too walked on the Mount of Olives. And he too wept over the city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:37). He was weeping not because of what his rejection meant for him, but because of what it would mean for the people who rejected him.
and so the early church is seeing these OT psalms—about David—pointing to the greater David—Jesus Christ.
of course—there are also a lot of differences—when you think about David and Jesus. Colin Smith says:
As striking as the parallels are, there is even greater significance in the contrasts. David’s people stood by him, but when Jesus faced his darkest hour, all of his disciples forsook him and fled. David abandoned the city to save his own life. But after he had wrestled in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus went back into the city, and when he was condemned, he laid down his life for us. David lost everything because he came under the discipline of God for his own sins. Jesus lost everything because he came under the judgment of God for our sins that were laid on him.
and I believe when you start to see the Bible is a unified message that leads to Jesus....it makes all the difference...
the Bible is not just a book of rules—dos and don’t
or heroes or not—all failed--
it’s a book about Jesus—about God sent His Son on a rescue plan to rescue us and bring the kingdom of God
and it has lots of twists and turns…our lives are often so confusing…with twists and turns…so is Scripture
God’s plan in our lives seem confusing...
so is Scripture...
and yet God over the hundreds of years—is fulfilling his plan in a way that leads to Jesus....
every time you read the Bible—looking for Jesus—even in the OT—it reminds you of God’s confusing and strange yet wonderful plan.
that he was working it all out for Jesus to come—to live, to die naked and bleeding on the cross, to rise victoriously—and to point to His coming back again...
what seemed confusing—God makes sense of in Jesus and His work on the cross....
this reminds us that our God—Jesus Christ is relatable—He experienced some tough things and sufferings along the way...
and it reminds us that through the cross—Jesus has defeated sin, and through his resurrection death—He is working out all things for our good
how do we finally make sense of God’s plan?
3. Know that we now have an advantage to make decision--
we actually have an advantage now—that they didn’t...
at least not quite yet...
that is until the next chapter...
what is that advantage? the Holy Spirit
the 3rd person of the Trinity--
who Jesus promised would come...
who Jesus would pour out
and you and I now experience when we believe in Jesus...
He lives in us
He guides us
He empowers us for decisions.
we read in verse 26—that they cast lots…a very common Old Testament thing to do...
but after this—we don’t see lots every mentioned again when making decisions
b/c since the HS has come—He now guides us…often in community.
we see the early church making decisions often together under the direction of the Spirit
Conclusion:
I actually believe this passage communicates that God cares so much about us.
one of the ways i believe that is the number 12....
in our Revelation series....#’s were significant---like the #7 completeness.
the #12 is significant in Scripture.
in the OT—God took the nation of Israel and made 12 tribes.
in the NT—when Jesus chose his apostles—He chose 12—it’s like he was making a new Israel.
and when they lost one—Judas—down to 11…he wanted them to have one more—12
to show that He truly does care about His people.
He is completing his people again—filling them up before he would really fill them up with the Holy Spirit.
God cares.
so pray...
read Scripture with Jesus at the center...
know that we have an advantage....
I want you to spend some time reflecting...