Jesus, The Center Of It All

This message was shared by Abhishek Bansode on 25th May 2020. To listen to the audio please click here

Jesus: Center of it All Acts 2: 14-41 Summary: Jesus is the grand conductor through whom God's plan for us- by His Spirit to be able to dream, prophesy, and to be saved and to see the “great and glorious” day- is fulfilled. - Acts 2: 14-41, Very Rich scripture - We will look at this scripture with the view of getting to know # Who is being addressed:   Groups of people # What is the discourse about:   God’s Conductor: Jesus # Why- the response Elicited. Godly Sorrow/Remorse Both in the historical context and in our context. Groups of People In the preceding verses Act2: 12 and 13 we see there were people who were amazed and perplexed (12) and others who were mocking (13), and then verse 14 says Peter along with 11 stood up, so these were the believers. There were 3 groups of people present there, lets look at each: Mockers: What does the Bible say about people who are mockers? - Fools!, Proverbs 1:22“How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge? Psalm 14:1 The fool says in his heart, “God does not exist.. Peter first addresses these people with simple logic: He in one sentence deals with their mockery-saying its only 9AM!! why would they be drunk at that hour? Bible usually deals with mocking and unbelief with logic, even in Romans it is mentioned that there are enough things in nature for humans to know there is an eternal power,(Rom 1-20) but some choose to ignore it. Psalms 19 says The heavens declare the glory of God and their expanse shows the works of his hand. Thiessen says in his “Introductory lectures in Systematic Theology”: God has endowed man with reason and the thing that is wrong is not the use of it, but the abuse of it” Ravi Zacharias: “ God put enough into the world to make faith in Him a reasonable thing. But He left enough out to make it impossible to live by reason alone.” And here is Peter dealing with them, later on, in his epistles, he again touches on this, which teaches us how we are to deal with mockers in the world today, as believers we are often subjects of mockery and “intellectual” questions, Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:15-16: To tell them the reason for your hope with Gentleness, Respect, clear conscience. And that is exactly how we should answer when faced with mockery, with gentleness, respect, and to use simple logic like the Bible does time and again. Wondering: The next group of people who are there and whom Peter is talking to are those who are wondering: “What is happening??” they are amazed and perplexed: Acts 2:12: They were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another “whatever could this mean?” They had a sense of awe, and you know what the Bible says in Proverbs 1: 7 - Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The Fear mentioned here is not the fear which comes because of being scared, it is reverential fear, a sense of awe! And these people are the ones who I believe responded at the end by getting baptized, this was the beginning of wisdom for them. It is to them that Peter starts to explain first the scripture(Joel 2:28) which is being fulfilled and second why now. Verses 17 to 21 Peter is telling then whats happening, and then he gets into why now part, where he squarely puts the Focus on Jesus: we will get into it a little later. Acts 2: 43 Everyone was filled with awe_ and many signs and wonders were seen- When we are in awe of God, we are in a posture of worship, and that acts like a catalyst for us to see many signs and wonders. It is important for us to never lose the sense of wonder about God. Believers: and then there is the third group present there: Acts 2: 14 Peter standing up “WITH” the eleven. It is important for us to stand with Preachers and Teachers and Evangelist and all who are witnessing actively. Be of ONE accord. Paul repeatedly asked for the believers to whom he was writing to pray for him. Romans: "I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers for me." We also have to stand with all ministers and preachers and teachers who are working in the mission fields. Also as believers, just like the early believers who were waiting for the Promise of God, we must eagerly desire to be baptized in the Spirit, to be able to do all that's mentioned: Dream dreams, prophecy, see visions, to be bold witnesses. That is the will and plan of God, prophecied long ago but being fulfilled in our times! God's Conductor: Jesus Now we come to what is the crux of this passage, The centrality of Jesus Christ to everything that has just transpired. Acts 2: 22 onwards, Peter puts Jesus center-stage of his discourse. 22: Jesus was an outstanding Man while in their midst, attested to by God (indeed being God himself) by all that He did. 23: God's divine plan and wisdom: Even though the people crucified him, it was the DETERMINED PURPOSE (marked out) and FOREKNOWLEDGE of God. Isaiah 52:10 It pleased the Lord to bruise Him. so that you and I can be saved, His love for us is awe-inspiring. 24: Impossible for death to hold him- WOW! wow! Wow! If this does not fill us with awe nothing will- Imagine being a person over whom death has no power, just wow. Verses 25-35  Peter proves how the Jewish Messiah cannot be a “fleshly” David but rather Jesus. Its the resurrected Jesus exalted at the right hand of God who is the reason for the event they have just witnessed (Verse 33) Jesus- crushed and bruised for us, now is exalted by God the Father to be both LORD AND CHRIST!  (Verse 36) God's plan to save humanity and His Love for us needed a conductor in between for all His love to reach us. And that's why it pleased the Lord. Because with Jesus we could not be reconciled to God, and what Jesus did exalt Him to a position which NO one can ever occupy: Lord and Christ! Jesus' Resurrection and His exaltation have marked a change in times. Now everyone who calls on His name can be saved, salvation has come for people. His resurrection can give us a secure place to the see the “Great and Glorious” day. Jesus was central to God's plan from the very begining: 1 Pet 1:20-21 “ He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you who THROUGH HIM believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” Anyone who Calls on HIS name shall be saved He is the focus and center of our Faith. Without Him we cant know the riches of the kindness of God and His Grace for our lives. Godly Sorrow/Remorse We now come to Why Peter was telling them all this, what was the response expected. Verse 37: They were cut to the heart. Its been 50-60 days since Peter himself denied the Lord, this shows what true conviction does.It liberates us from the past sins and gives us the boldness to be witnesses of the Love of God. 2 Cor 7 10 Godly produces repentance leading to salvation, worldly sorrow-death. Condemnation vs Conviction: one brings the guilt which crushes you and oppresses, the other is the work of The spirit which leads you to salvation, which is liberation. John 12:47 says Jesus did not come to condemn. Metanoia: to think differently, change your mind. The discourse started with Peter telling them “you crucified Him” and Jesus a mere man in their sights. He ends with Jesus is Lord and Christ! God's plan was always to prosper us and to reconcile us to him, and Jesus is central to that,  we must see His Love for us and His free gift of salvation in Jesus. Through Jesus, we receive the Promise of the Holy Spirit and through The Holy Spirit we receive the Power to be witnesses of Jesus. Are we seeing Jesus as the center of it all in our lives Do we need to change our minds about it Conclusion and Summary l  Jesus is at Center of God's will for Humanity, and it is through Him that we believe are saved and receive the promises of God. l  It is Jesus Christ, exalted to the right hand of God, who pours out the Holy Spirit, for us to be filled and to be able to have the power to be witnesses: to be able to dream dreams, see visions, to prophecy and to be bold. l  Jesus is the grand conductor through whom God's plan for us- by His Spirit to be able to dream, prophesy, and to be saved and to see the “great and glorious” day- is fulfilled. l  Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your plan for us, for you foreordained Jesus as the Lamb from before the foundation of the world, Jesus Christ we thank you for you chose to be the conductor-the go-between- for us to be able to receive the Love and Promises of God. We acknowledge your Lordship and Centrality in our lives. We thank you that through you and you alone we are saved, and thank you for the baptism of the Spirit, through whom we can be bold witnesses for you. We ask you, Lord Holy Spirit to use us as we submit ourselves to you. Amen Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.

The Outpouring Of The Holy spirit

This message was preached by Colin DCruz at Word of Grace Church on May 17th, 2020. To listen to the audio please click. To listen to the worship, please click here

How many times in the Gospels is it written that Jesus is the Lamb of God? 

• ONLY ONCE, in John

But the fact that Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit is mentioned in EVERY one of the four gospels, and at least twice in Acts. That’s SIX times.

Even though Jesus is the Lamb of God is incredibly important because he died for our sins, it is only mentioned once in the gospels but Jesus baptizing us with the Holy Spirit is mentioned so many more times. It’s clear by this alone that being baptized in the Holy Spirit is an important part of our spiritual journey with Christ.

Acts 2:1-2 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” 

 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

1. God’s Timing

 In Acts 1:4-5 “ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.” 

Jesus tells the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before they left Jerusalem, he even emphasized it further in Acts 1:8 “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

But he never said how long they would have to wait for, nevertheless, they obeyed and they waited. He wanted them to be equipped with the Spirit before they went out into the world.

It is clear from Acts 2:2 that we don’t know when God can pour out his Holy Spirit in great measure upon his people but we have been commanded to wait for it, just like Jesus told the disciples.

The work of the Holy Spirit is entirely based on God’s timing, we cannot control the work of the Holy Spirit. 

John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

Even though Jesus had even appeared before 500 people (1 Cor 15:6), on the day of Pentecost, only 120 people were gathered in that room. Where were the other 380?

Let’s choose to be a people who will wait on God. 

When the early Christians waited for the Spirit they weren’t idle they waited in prayer for the Spirit.

There have been many instances of Revival in history, like the Azua Street Revival or the Hebrides Revival, when the Holy Spirit had been poured out on a large number of people and they all turned to Jesus : 

One evening a group of around 200 - 300 people went to a police station because they wanted relief from the internal strain they were experiencing and they knew there was a Christian Policeman there who was a strong committed Christian. After they arrived, they all faced such deep conviction. This was not the work of Man but the Work of God.

How did it start? How did this wonderful revival take place?

Two old women, one 84 the other 82, one of them blind! were greatly burdened because no young people attended any public worship anymore. So every Tuesday and Thursday they would meet and pray from long stretches of time and they kept doing it faithfully. 

As Christians, till our dying days, we can be used by God. The two old ladies remained dedicated and prayed for a long time before any revival or change happened. It all depends on God’s timing and you can do that too, especially now when everyone is quarantined in their homes, take some time out of your fay and pray for God to pour out his spirit and send a revival.

We saw the work of  God’s timing on the day of Pentecost as well as here. What we can do to help is pray in faith and expectation asking God to pour out his Spirit.

 2. God’s Filling

In Acts 1v8 “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”

Jesus said we will receive power that will make us bold as lions, when we receive the Spirit, to become witnesses.

Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

If you have never received the Holy Spirit, wait on the Holy Spirit, pray today, that you would be filled the same power upon your life.

The disciples were all believers and they had the Holy Spirit in them but the day of Pentecost brought the Holy Spirit UPON them.

DL Moody and 2 women in his church would pray every Friday afternoon. He had a ministry but there wasn’t any real power in it, so they prayed for his ministry. Sometime later, in New York, God revealed himself to Moody. He too prayed, obeyed and waited. Moody then continued with his ministry, with the same sermons as he did before, but suddenly one day the Holy Spirit came upon him in power and magnified his effort and HUNDREDS were saved. The same sermons, but this time with the POWER of the spirit behind them.

Acts 2 v3 “ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.”

The 120 were powerfully immersed in the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in tongues, prophecy and declare the praises of God.

Acts 2:11 “ we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 

The result of the Filling of the Spirit is that there’s an outpouring of the Gifts of the Spirit

 (1 Cor 12:6.)The holy spirit gives us different gifts, gifts for each one of us. We must keep in mind that these gifts God had given us are not for our own glory but for the Common good

1 cor 12 v8-10 

“8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous power, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”

Romans 12 mentions another set of gifts “ 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

And so we see that when the Holy Spirit is poured out, so are the gifts of the Spirit. We see in Acts 3, after the day of Pentecost, Peter healed the cripple outside the temple gate. Similarly, 

God has gifts for each one us. Let’s be a people that actively want and yearn for these gifts.

1 Cor 14:1 “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” Paul tells us to eagerly desire spiritual gifts.

What’s the purpose of all this? 

3. (i)God’s Mission

 Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Power, filling and these gifts were all to help us to be his witnesses. God wants us to proclaim the good news and has equipped us with all we need to do it.

  

So ask yourself today :

1. Am I using the gifts God has given me?
2.  
3. Am I aware of the gifts God has given me?
4.  
5. Am I developing the gifts God has given me?
6.  
7. Am I deploying the gifts God has given me?
8.  

The final reason and end result of the Holy Spirit being poured out is (ii) God’s glory. He wants his name to be proclaimed in all the earth and his glory to fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. When multitudes come to Jesus it brings great glory to God and that is what we are called to do.

Acts 2 v11  God wants to see the world declaring the wonders of God in their own tongue.

Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit? If you haven’t, then ask for it for “how much more will the father give it to those who ask” And if you’ve already been baptized pray for more, that you may be filled with it even more. 

Let’s pray for a great outpouring and revival. That people would be converted and convicted.

Lord pour out your Spirit in a greater measure so that people may turn to you.

Who Why & How - The choosing

This message was preached by Debbie Vartak at Word of Grace Church on May 3rd, 2020. To listen to the audio please click.

A Very Good Morning.

And whilst WOG’S SOCIALIZING is hitting the charts, I have a Quiz question also….

You have a very important task to be done….. Who would you choose? How would you do this or Why would you choose the person?

ACTS 1:12-26

We are looking at a portion of scripture that holds deep truth for us today; in our times and circumstances as Christians. But let’s take a look at where it is placed in the scripture and why Luke or the author of The Book of Acts thinks it necessary to enter these details at this point.  This passage is hidden between 2 very important events 1) the Ascension and 2) Pentecost.

Let's read Acts 1:12-26.

The book of Acts is

a)     about Luke establishing the most important foundation or truth of our belief : The Resurrection

b)     and about the credibility of the witnesses (or people) handling this truth with a mission to carry the message of Jesus to Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost pasts of the world – to pass it down and on the basis of testimony and witness, people would become believers, i.e. Christians.

Who were these men handling this very important and dynamic truth? And what were they like?

And to answer these questions, let us look at 3 points that you and I can remember – so write them in your books – What qualified them as witnesses, They demonstrated in belief and action why they were chosen to fulfill this task.

A witness is one who has personal knowledge of something that occurred. They were to execute an important task and were to be also persecuted and executed. 

POINT 1 They knew to FOLLOW ORDERS

vs 14 tells us What kind of people they were.

As instructed by Jesus in Acts 1:4,  THEY FOLLOWED WHAT WAS COMMANDED TO THEM

-        DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM ( NOT THE UPPER ROOM for Luke 24: 53 adds to Acts 1:13-14  )

-        WAIT FOR THE PROMISE

But what was Jerusalem like? And why do we look at these men as men of obedience?

Jerusalem was where on Sunday before the resurrection, crowds had entered Jerusalem for the Passover. It was a thunderous sound that emanated

-when they shouted “Hosanna in the Highest… in the name of the Lord”….

-and then a few days later they were shouting “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”,

-and as if that was not enough, they refer to him as an infidel and get Roman guards to secure the tomb. 

-Jesus rises, the soldiers are paid to hide this and to put the blame on the disciples

Jerusalem was in a frenzy. People were now waiting for Pentecost or the Feast of Harvests or Feast of Weeks as it was referred to.

Jerusalem was a dangerous place. They had identified Peter in the courtyard and said…. Were you not with him…you are a Galilean.

They were confused with the crucifixion but believed with Thomas when they saw he was resurrected.

But they did not question the command of Jesus.  They did what was asked of them. They went back to Jerusalem from Mount Olive. They went and gathered in the Upper Room ( the definite article seems to refer to the same room Jesus broke bread with them.

It was a large room ( I mean really large …. As approx. 120 of them were living there) they gathered in it.

120 of them

-        The eleven apostles

-        The women

-        Mary the mother of Jesus

-        Jesus’  brothers ( approx. 4)

-        And most probably 70 disciples

120 people – different characters, different backgrounds, different views, different statuses and upbringings and beliefs.  120 PEOPLE BUT WITH ONE THING COMMON – TO OBEY THE COMMAND OF GOING BACK TO JERUSALEM, WITH ONE COMMON PURPOSE THAT THEY STAY UNITED AND IN THIS UNITY THEY SAW STRENGTH.

Who did they comprise of?

-Peter who had denied Jesus and had been forgiven and reinstated after spending time with Jesus in Galilee after the resurrection.

-Jesus’ brothers – He is insane – that is what they termed him, but had had a change of mind and heart

-Mathew the tax collector – bribes and cheating people were part of his everyday job

-Simon the Zealot  - the political agenda of these was to target the tax collectors and kill them for sport

-Men so fearful that they all fled at the sight of Jesus being betrayed

BUT THEY CAME TOGETHER WITH ONE MIND, ONE ACCORD.

They acknowledged the Lordship of Jesus and they obeyed him. They now knew that they must FORTIFY THEMSELVES for what was to come. –  the outpouring of the Holy Spirit so they could be Jesus’ witnesses.

They had had the greatest example and hands-on experience as they walked with Jesus for 3 years and witnessed His life. – They saw Jesus rise early in the morning …. 3.30 – 4.00 am and go and seek the Father, giving himself to prayer and they knew the secret and followed.

 What did they pray for ?, one may ask since the Ascension had just taken place…. What did they pray / Why did they devote themselves to prayer and supplication? They were taught well….

-        They prayed ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done’

-        They prayed for the promise that they were told was to arrive

-        They prayed according to the scriptures

-        They prayed for courage and boldness and strength… they knew what lay ahead - 

WITNESS in Greek is ‘Martyrs’ (one who has had a dramatic encounter with Jesus which was life-changing) and the person would give a first-hand witness of what he had seen and heard which would bring with it persecution and even death.  

-        Luke 24:53 says they went into the temple and praised God, blessed God, Extolled him.

-        They prayed and readied themselves

THIS WAS AN INDEFINITE LOCKDOWN..… WITH NO INDICATION OF WHEN THE PROMISE WOULD ARRIVE AND THE LOCKDOWN END.

We are in a similar situation and so were they. But what attitude did they have? Let us read and remind ourselves.

POINT 2 – They FOLLOWED THE SCRIPTURES – Acts 1 vs 16

From the prayer and supplication and waiting on God, Peter was led to follow the scriptures and witness its fulfillment.

But Peter was quite illiterate… He was a fisherman……??

-        Like every male Jewish child he was schooled in the study of the scriptures from childhood

-        He knew the old testament

-        He heard Jesus read and explain the Psalms, the scriptures in the temple

-        He heard the sermon on the mount

-        He heard Jesus quote the scriptures.

Ps 119:11 says I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you….Peter knew the word of God by heart and it was in his heart stored away for a time like this.

And so he stands up and quotes this word from Ps 109: 8.  He says David, led by the Holy Spirit spoke these words and prophesied about a time to come….. the very same that had occurred in the Garden when Judas betrayed Jesus and sold him for a price of 30 pieces of silver. ‘ Let his ……….Let his place be taken by another’.

With conviction and as their leader he says that the apostles were to be 12 men and they were only 11. 12 men ready to experience the very important outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He explained his action was in line with the word of God, prophesied beforehand about what Judas would do and now in the absence of Judas what they must do… a man appointed in the place of Judas.

Zachariah says in Zach 11:12,13 that he had done work for his employers and he addresses them and tells them… If you want, pay me or don’t. And they paid him for the work he had done … 30 pieces of silver …. The price of a slave… Zachariah had done work worthy of a much, much higher wage. And God commands him and tells him to give it to the potter's house ( the temple). Peter goes all the way to say why Judas must be replaced.  He was NO MORE AN APOSTLE. HE WAS NOT TO BE COUNTED WITH THEM ANY LONGER

He says in vs 17 he was counted among us and divinely appointed to a calling – the highest of its kind. It was NO ORDINARY CALLING AND COMMISSIONING

But Judas like every one of the disciples did not understand ….. Acts 1:6 says. He was poor and covetous. AFTER THE RESSURECTION ….When they were assembled, they asked Jesus when will your kingdom be re-established…. The passion version says…Every time they assembled they asked this question.     

          

Judas had died inwardly, much before he died physically. Spiritually his fall began, when he is smarter than the rest, understanding that wealth, position, and rulership in this world was never going to be his.  It was not on the agenda of Jesus. And he sought to then make it happen by stealing the money from the kitty, or common purse of the disciples since he was their treasurer. Each time he took some he forfeited his honor.

A)     At first, he was disappointed at what he saw and realized and he began to fall with stealing

B)     His disappointment soon led to him becoming disillusioned…. Jhn 12: 5-6 says ….This perfume could have been sold for 300 denari and given to the poor….. when actually he was a thief

C)     This disillusioned prisoner was then deceived …. Which is satan’s biggest weapon…? Betray Jesus and you will earn wealth to have a property of your own 

And with treason, he fell from the highest calling to the lowest infamy…. Judas in today’s world is still synonymous with a traitor or betrayer.

So for 30 pieces of silver, he sold Jesus. But when Jesus was condemned - something he did not see coming…. Did Adam or Eve see it?  it’s the same trick satan plays………

He went out and committed suicide and hung himself…. Nowhere does it say on a tree…. But it is likely he did it in the Hinnom Valley, from a cliff…. but wherever, when he fell headlong his body with the fall was hit and his belly split apart and his guts gushed out.  It was in this state that he was found and buried in the field that was purchased with the blood money, the money he received for betraying Jesus.  Akeldama …. Field of Blood… let no one go there… let no one visit that place….let it be left alone.

While the other apostles asked Jesus about his earthly kingdom, their heart was towards Jesus and not to the offings from Jesus ruling as king… so they were prepared to listen and accept what Jesus had to say.  NOT JUDAS…. His heart was on the worldly ….. nothing spiritual interested him. That was something he did not understand and believe.

Psalm 109 : 7,8

When the wicked is judged let him be condemned

Let his days be few

Let another take his office.

Peter knew the word and sought to follow it and witness its outworking.

POINT 3 - They FOLLOWED the scriptures in its execution and fulfillment

Peter followed the right process in the execution and fulfillment of the scriptures.

The integrity of these witnesses was put to the test in this crucial time and THEY PASSED THE TEST.

A witness is watched very closely : Every action, every word, every response, is closely monitored and it determines if you are godly or ungodly.  There is no grey area…. Only if you ARE OR NOT.

Peter, the impulsive had had a talk with Jesus after the resurrection.

-        He was to lead. His past was never going to determine the future.

-        He had prayed in unity with the others

-        With supplication

-        Waiting on God

What do you mean by INTEGRITY?

-Peter did not promote his favorite candidate.

-He did not look and see and trust his instincts

-He did not go by what showed up in their behavior

-there was no lobbying …. Vote for me,  vote for me, no speeches to prove they were the right candidate, no testimonies to prove it

Thinking back on three years and on the basis of their/his calling, he put forth two very strong points. The candidate should have been present -

-        from the baptism of Jesus by John

-        to the ascension

And Barsabba nicknamed Justus ( Justus meant just or righteous…. Something that spoke of the kind of person he was, and Barsabbas …. Meaning born on the Sabbath)

And Mathias met these criteria.

Peter chose on the basis of these two criteria – for he knew such a candidate  had stood the test of time, dramatically experienced Jesus in the storm, when they wanted to hurl him off the cliff, when they wanted to stone the adulteress woman when He gave them power as the 70 to go out and heal the sick, cast out demons, etc.

They were there in the good and not so good times, WITH JESUS.

Mathias was just a face in a crowd of 70 disciples – that’s what most think he was – one of the disciples.  As one may conclude he was one of the 70 disciples empowered by Jesus, right from the time Jesus was baptized and through his entire 3-year ministry…what a rich experience. It was the case of the parable (Math 25:14-30) of the 1, 2, and 5 talents and their rewards….Because Mathias was no Peter, no John or James…. He was just another amongst the 70.

  BUT…. AND THE BIG BUT…. GOD SAW HIS HEART, HIS FAITHFULNESS, HIS LIFE that no one else knew about and the lot fell to his name.

GOD MANIFESTED HIS CHOICE….. IT WAS GOD’S CHOICE….. THE LOT SHOWED WHOM GOD Wanted

And by the way, MATHIAS means the gift of God.

MATHIAS WAS THE 12^TH APOSTLE……

What is your book and my book of Acts speaking about me and us as WITNESSES

Let us pray that the world where we stand as witnesses see us as

-        Unitedly devoted to prayer ( take any slot or any time most convenient to you and join the PRAYER 24/7) this is the need of the hour.

-        Following the powerful, action-packed word as our guide…. Hide at least 2 verses per week in your heart that you may not sin that you may be scripture led like Peter. That you would never be led astray.

-        And execute His commands – obey them with integrity and according to the criteria laid down in the word of God – with cleanness of mind, heart, right attitude – God witnesses your faithfulness

And as I close I hope that your method of choosing a person for a very important task and God’s ways are the same – that they follow the same method and find the right criteria as laid down in Acts 1: 12-26.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.