Redemption on Pentecost
Notes
Transcript
Importance of firm foundations story: If your foundation is off, your whole structure is off....
Tyler digging trench for a retaining wall...
When building the walls must be tied together to the foundation…there is unity that’s needed and each part must do its part…story of leaning against the wall that wasn’t tied in yet…or stepping on concrete that wasn’t set yet.
Early church was just forming…Jesus had ascended and they were promised he would return in the same way.
They obeyed…but they had also recently gone through losing one of their friends and leaders…how do they move forward?
Acts 1:12-26
Acts 1:12-26
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 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. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
About a Km away...
List of the 12 minus Judas Iscariot....
There was unity and there was prayer...
Psalm 133…they were together in unity.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (brothers) (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 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.”
120 for a new community to be established
- 1 of the 12 was unfaithful...fell away...betrayed…He was CALLED, Chosen, participated in the ministry, yet he betrayed them!
- The 11 had pulled back, doubted, but repented…and were restored
It’s interesting that it’s been less than 7 weeks since Peter had denied Jesus, yet he was restored to ministry.
This means that we don’t have to be perfect to lead and leaders don’t have to do penance, but they do need to produce fruit in keeping with repentance just like any other believer.
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. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
explain the difference in Matthew’s telling....
He betrayed Jesus…but all of the others had also fled in fear…key differences though.
Peter was told that he would deny, which is different than betray, and he still did it.
Judas was filled with REMORSE, not repentance…he regretted doing it but he did not have hope that he could be restored and that God could bring transformation out of the situation.
Godly sorrow brings repentance. His sorrow had no hope. His foundation was shaken.
Was his faith in the messianic idea he had of Jesus or in the Jesus he had actually spent time with? Was his whole experience of Jesus filtered through his own expectations of who he thought Jesus should be?
- strength of your faith is determined by the object of your faith.
- many have fallen away...God's heart for Judas was like it was for Peter...
So, in his hopelessness & shame he killed himself. Very sad end to his life.
A similar thing had happened to king David when one of his men had betrayed him who later killed himself.
Peter saw similarities from the word hidden in his heart...
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.’
Ties together 2 Psalms that he sees as indicating that God knew this would happen…that they should not be shaken by it.
Sees the need to obey the (prophetic) Scripture
the 12 representing the tribes of Israel. Jesus had said that there would be 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes.
12 was significant of foundations…but one had fallen.
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.”
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.
The requirements of what they saw as necessary to have a firm foundation for their community…
To be able to be witnesses...
To be part of the 12 was an apostolic ministry, but it was not the only apostolic ministry. This was a foundational leadership role.
- He wasn’t part of the “in crowd” but he was INvolved... he was faithful in the small things…he showed up…and suddenly he was one of the 12!
Casting of lots
We need leaders in our lives and in our community for there to be firm foundations...
There have been Fallen leaders, it has happened and it will continue to happen.
Leadership as appointed by God…who speaks into your life? Who helps set foundations in your life? (they had 12 because of foundations)
Faithful vs Fallen Away
Leadership - who are you Trusting? (God or yourself? If you are trusting God you can submit to leaders).
Who helps lay foundations in YOUR life? (Imagine what would have happened if Judas had brought his plans for betrayal and suicide to his brothers? What would have happened if he had run it by Jesus?)
The firm foundations for your life and as a Church Community are:
- Scripture
- Holy Spirit
- Leaders