March 10 th, 2013 The power, progress, and triumph of the gospel in our world How the Spirit of God advances the word of God through the people of God Acts 1:15-26, PREPARATION - Understanding the Sovereign Lord we serve
One of my greatest hopes for each individual person at Crossway at SPEAKING TRUTH TO OUR OWN HEARTS. PREACHING to ourselves! Learning to speak the gospel daily as a way of life. You know how your electronic devices have Default Settings Where you tell them what you want them to do automatically and on an ongoing basis. I think our default setting is more often to rehearse things that are NOT truth. We re actually better at telling ourselves lies or rehearsing discouragement or complaining about life and circumstances INSTEAD of proclaiming truth that satisfies, and sustains, and overcomes in our own hearts. Illustration through story of personal experience. We ve got to preach what is true to our own hearts through all of life and ministry and in every challenge and circumstance. And at the top level of ALL the things we ve got to listen to and rehearse in our hearts and minds is something (big picture) that comes out of the last scene that Luke writes for us in Acts 1. This is God s replacement of the dead betrayer of Jesus - Judas. (doesn t seem all that encouraging) But - Through this we ll see a truth that will preach in our own hearts every day in every circumstance...in every ministry and mission effort in every step we take to grow in the likeness of Jesus And that is the powerful reminder that God is in control even when it MOST seems like He is not. Remember, there are four key elements in the chapter that we need to embrace with our leaders those first followers of Christ who launched the church from here - And we land on #4 today So far we have looked at: Our Power: The promise of the Holy Spirit of God (1-5) Our Purpose: Our Calling as Christ s Witnesses (6-11) Prayer: The vitality of the church s devotion (12-14) (TODAY) Preparation: Understanding the Sovereign God we Serve (15-26) HE is the One we truly see in this passage! This not mainly about the apostles, or Judas betrayal, or the replacement Matthias. It s about GOD and how He is Sovereign over all that has been, all that is, and all that will be A powerful message for people on a mission they have NO CONTROL of the salvation of souls the transformation of lives. They re prepared (bottom line) with a right view of God - A high view of God a TRUSTING, SURRENDERED, DEPENDENT view of God. These followers of Jesus haven t always had such great faith. But now (starting with Peter) they re showing us what it looks like to live in light of the reality that God is: 2
1. Sovereign over ALL THAT HAS BEEN, v. 15-20 In those days (the days after they had returned to Jerusalem and were gathered and devoted to prayer) Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120 [others 1 Corinthians 15:6, (500)]) and said, 16 Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled Here Peter is about to review what must have seemed like the greatest tragedy the may have experienced perhaps 2 nd only to Jesus death One of their very own betraying the Lord Jesus and this is what Peter leads with. Jesus has given us an impossible mission. Jesus has sent us into a city hostile to His Name. Jesus has gone back to the Father. We re prayerful/dependent. Where do we go next? What do we do now? How will we know our next steps? Where does Peter go for the answer? It is none other than the WORD OF GOD and PRAYER (as we have already seen) that forms the foundation for the birth of the church. 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. This powerful appeal from the Scripture (that is the written word of God spoken through men) is actually a pattern that Jesus Himself set for them, isn t it? How often did the Lord Himself say these words? The scripture must be fulfilled or The scripture IS fulfilled and it was usually HE HIMSELF who was the very fulfillment He was talking about. 1 Like in Luke 24 after He had risen and was appearing to His disciples (this was probably about 3 months ago Peter had heard these words) Jesus just appears and stands among his disciples speaks peace to them asks them why they doubt shows them his scars eats with them and says this everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. 45 Then he opened their minds to understand (what?) the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 1 See Matthew 21:42 (Mark 12:10), 26:54-56, Mark 14:49, John 2:22, 5:39ff, 7:38-42, 13:18, 17:12, 19:24, 28, 36-37, 20:9, Luke 4:21, 22:37, 24:27-32 3
And now through Peter, leading this first little band of 120 followers God is still reminding them that He sovereignly used this horrific betrayal to bring ABOUT the suffering of the Christ To bring ABOUT His resurrection & victory over death - To bring ABOUT repentance and forgiveness of sin - To bring ABOUT the message to proclaim to all nations. THIS WAS NO SET BACK! This was God s hand perfectly weaving His wonderful plan of grace and mercy together through Christ for our greatest GOOD and His supreme glory! This was not some business meeting where they voted in a new pastor! This is the fulfillment now even of the details beyond the arrest and execution of Jesus that resulted from Judas betrayal. Peter goes on, verse 17 and here s what appeared to be the great human tragedy! Speaking of Judas 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. He looked the part. He experienced the privileges. He served and was involved but had different plans in mind. Plans that brought his own destruction. 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, [plug your ears if you re squeamish this isn t rated G] and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. [you came this morning to hear that] 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.) The gospel of Matthew (27) tells us that Judas tried to return the money once he saw that Jesus was condemned. The Pharisees refused it but Judas left it anyway. And because it was blood money, the couldn t use it for their religious purposes so THEY are the ones who bought the field. And they made it a graveyard for strangers (not an honorable tomb of the unknown). And apparently this potter s field was also the same place Judas hanged himself and was found after the hanging in this even more graphic condition described here by Peter. I think to highlight the awful and shameful way Judas life ended. In fact the scene became so well known through the whole city that the graveyard was named Field of Blood Akeldama (Aramaic). All of that was by way of explanation Now Peter gets back to the point The Scripture had to be fulfilled. But what Scripture is he referring to? Verse 20 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 ; (quoted from Psalm 69:25) and Let another take his office. (Quoted from Psalm 109:8). Both of these Psalms are longer prayers of King David where He is pleading with God to save him from His enemies (in the OT, the enemies of God righteous King are seen as the enemies of God Himself). 4
And all through these 2 psalms (and many others) he is crying out for vindication and justice. Like in Psalm 69 Lord empty out their camp and don t let them replenish. And in Psalm 109:8 speaking more specifically of the enemy leading the charge against him Lord make his days few let him fall from his title (give him a very short career). We also know that many of the Psalms that speak of the CURRENT King (especially those associated with King David)...They are also looking forward in anticipation to the PERFECT ETERNAL King who would descend from David s line Namely? Jesus! So, just as DAVID (the king after God s own heart) pointed forward to the ideal King Jesus the Messiah So David s enemies point forward and anticipate (who?) the ENEMIES of Jesus The Messiah. And now, under the direction of the Holy Spirit (the One who wrote the whole story from start to finish) Peter tells us - these words that David wrote now refer appropriately to Judas the enemy of Christ. 2 His camp has certainly become desolate You could say it s a graveyard and there is certainly no one dwelling in it. And his office certainly WAS short- lived and now he s got to be replaced. What a horrible story! What could be more tragic (from a human perspective) than the story of Judas? You couldn t dream up a more unsettling scene! Could there be any higher treason? Could there be a worse act of betrayal to live and serve for 3 years with the Savior of all humanity and then to sell Him out for 30 pieces of sliver AND lead His captors to your secret place of gathering - AND kiss Him to point out who He is??? Could there be a worse outcome from a single wicked choice? Could there be a situation that looked (to those in the middle of it) more like God had missed something? Until you finally view it all as the dark backdrop against which the beautiful diamond of the gospel shines. The gospel that Jesus was accomplishing though it all It is then that you can come to only one conclusion God is in control even when it most seems like He is not. 2 From God s view, David s words have always referred appropriately to the enemy of His Son the son of destruction Judas. The question of whether or not David actually knew he was speaking specifically of a betrayer of the Messiah who was to come is unclear. The OT writer s specific knowledge of the future is only clear when the word of God tells us that it is. Like in the case of Acts 2:25ff where Peter tells the audience (and Luke s readers) that David spoke directly about the resurrection of Christ AS A PROPHET (v. 30) when he wrote Psalm 16:8-11. (This question is one that has seen much debate through church History Labeled sensus plenoir or fuller sense, it asks the question: Are there times when there is a fuller sense to the meaning of especially an OT passage than the human author was consciously aware of when he wrote it? This occasion in Acts 1 along with others seem to suggest that sometimes there is. 5
I think that when we finally see something this humanly ugly and sinful used by God for something so divinely glorious (repentance and forgiveness from sin for every nation), (maybe) we start to get it. We have to start to believe He s got me. He s never lost control and He never will. When things look uncertain or out of control, He s got me. When pain and hardship heads my way, He s got me. Do you believe it? When He sends me out into a dark world to bear witness and shine LIGHT for Him, He s got me! God is in control even when it most seems like He is not. As the scene unfolds, we see this also in the reality that God is (v. 21-23): 2. Sovereign over ALL THAT IS RIGHT NOW This is what they believed now. All of the timing. All of the specifics and the details??? God is in ALL of it! 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. God s man to replace Judas is here and God s going to show us. But it can t just be any faithful follower. This one has some specific eye- witness qualifications. This has to be someone that God has already marked and who has been along on this incredible journey. The baptism of John marks the beginning The ascension of Jesus marks the end. This man had to have been with them as a follower through the trial, conviction, and crucifixion of Christ And most notably a true witness to His resurrection. (the cornerstone of our faith!) 3 These are the definitive & foundational gospel events that these 1 st 12 eyewitnesses had to be able to pass on. So these are to be the 12 chosen by God to lead the first historical witness of Jesus Christ and pass on and authenticate His message of forgiveness and life through what (ALL of them would SPEAK) and some of them would write down. It s pretty amazing what God is doing right here. Are you ever going along in life and ministry and all of a sudden you see that God is all wrapped up in even the most basic details? And every once in a while you get to actually SEE how the details represent something much bigger! We read through these couple verses and we think Ok yep replace an apostle get things in order ok had to see the work of Jesus and especially his resurrection OK looks like we re back on our way to a team of 12. 3 The resurrection of Christ being the very cornerstone of our faith Why? Because if Jesus didn t truly overcome death, then He is not able to crucify and raise our dead sinful souls either. A dead savior can t give life and lead us to ETERNAL LIFE. See 1 Corinthians 15:17-20 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 6
But there is so much more going on here isn t there? God is still (as He always is) powerfully inserting His sovereign hand in and through EVERYTHING! Jesus had already given them a window into heaven and eternity (lots of times) but especially when He told them in Matthew 19 of their reward they had to look forward to (also Luke 22:28-30). Peter (the same guy talking right here) was reminding Jesus that they had left everything to follow and wanted to know what they would have Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel YES, you left it all but you will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Yes, you will sit on thrones in heaven like Me but you re also going to be suffering servants like me! And now one of those 12 thrones was empty and it HAD to be filled. So, as the scene comes to a close (which is really the start of something huge), we see their trust in the fact that God is sovereign over all that has been, sovereign over all that is, and now (v. 24-26) 3. Sovereign over ALL THAT IS TO COME The question here is: DO YOU BELIEVE GOD IS THE LEADER? Do you trust that GOD is more capable for anything that is to come your way - than you or anyone else? So now they have these two qualified men in front of them Joseph (also called Barsabbas also called Justus) and Matthais What will they do next? How will they know who to choose of two qualified men? First 3 words of v. 24.. 24 And they prayed They re not going to move without trusting the Lord in prayer (like Moses in the wilderness Exodus 33:15 If You are not going I m not). Listen to the expression of their trust (They) 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. 7
This is the last time we see this practice of casting lots in the Bible where something like rocks with names might have been put in a sack and drawn from to finalize the decision. But it as an expression of trust that God would reveal His decision through the lot like Proverbs 16:33 says The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. This was God s way, in God s time, to mark God s man for the 12 th man to bear witness. We never hear of Matthias again. Some Historical tradition suggests that he was martyred late in the first century in Ethiopia. Bearing witness to the end of His life possibly to death because of it. So, not only did God use the treachery of Judas - the highest treason in all of history to advance His plan to crush His own Son Now here He is tying up any POSSIBLE (so- called) lose ends and setting His apostles on a course to change the world forever. Almost as if to say to the Devil and the domain of darkness You thought we were down one didn t you? Not a chance. The kingdom will advance under the outpouring of the Spirit of God - NOW. In the end (the very end), the apostle John gets another glimpse into heaven and eternity in Revelation 21 Jesus is now gaining full victory and setting up His Kingdom for eternity making ALL THINGS NEW And John gets this incredible vision wherein and angel speaks to him in verse 9 and says Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb. 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Then the angel goes to measure this NEW JERUSALEM (I assume to show John it s immensity). And then he describes it s worth walls of jasper, a city of purse gold, jewels of every kind, entire gates made of a single pearl and yes, streets of gold. And then John says - 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 8
Holy City coming down, radiant with the glory of God, 12 gates, 12 angels, 12 tribes, 12 foundations, 12 apostles of the Lamb (not 11!). And who is at the center of it all? The Lamb Himself. Christ who IS the glory of God. God is in control when it most seems like He is not. Control of all that has been. Control of all that is. Control of all that is to come. DO YOU BELIEVE GOD IS YOUR LEADER? And do you believe it with such conviction that you will cry out to Him for what might even seem to be the most basic steps in life and ministry? You might read this and from a human perspective you might think - Peter - Just pick another apostle already! Come on! Really? Did it have to take all of this? You better believe it! These men were desperate. These men were dependent. These men knew that what lay before them was an impossible task the mission of saving souls and transforming lives! So what will you proclaim to yourself (your own heart) the next time it seems to you that your God Creator of all that is is NOT in control? Will you remember the so- called tragedy of Judas? And God s victorious sovereign hand in and through it? Will you review the truth that God is in the details working all things together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose? Can we not trust that if He HAS a purpose (which He does it s the glory of the Lamb and the advance of His gospel) that we can step out on the edge as His witnesses to lovingly speak the truth of Christ in our world and TRUST HIM for the outcome??? Yes we can! Why? Because God is ALWAYS and FOREVER in control Even when it most seems like He is NOT. 9