The Authority
Fully Devoted: A Study in Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsThe Bible is the authority of Jesus for the church and for life.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
(5min)
Where do you go for answers?
I AM the answer!
mom
Google (remember what life was like before Google?)
The real question is, “What is the authority in your life?”
Not question of motivation but question of direction
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 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. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 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.) 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’;
and
“ ‘Let another take his office.’
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. 24 And they prayed and 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.
Why was this written?
11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
interesting story?
Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem. . .
training manual for how to choose your leaders?
The Preparation of Prayer
The Preparation of Prayer
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 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. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 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.) 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’;
and
“ ‘Let another take his office.’
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. 24 And they prayed and 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.
The Bible is the authority of Jesus for the church and for life.
The Preparation of Prayer
The Preparation of Prayer
Explanation
Sabbath day’s journey
doesn’t mean it happened on a Sabbath
- command for every man to remain in his place on the Sabbath
about 2000 cubits = less than half a mile
said to be distance between the Ark and the Israelites when they crossed the Jordan
Upper room
probably not same upper room from with Jesus
Judas the son of James
not Judas Iscariot
poor guy!
Not just disciples there
the women
Mary Jesus’ mother
Jesus’ brothers
This is why we believe Mary was not a perpetual virgin
And they were. . . praying.
The Preparation of Prayer (12-14)
The Preparation of Prayer (12-14)
(10 min)
Prayer is a priority.
Prayer is a priority.
Prayer was the first thing the disciples did. They didn’t:
reminisce about their latest spiritual experience
write a book, “Forty Days With Jesus”
lay out a plan for their next season of life
They prayed.
What is your ‘go-to’? What is the first thing you do while you wait for answers? While you wait for the next step?
I AM the answer!
Some of us are fixers (that’s me)
Some of us are deniers
Some of us are criers
ILLUST - When I come whining about a problem, or complain about a lack of direction my dear wife will ask, “Have you prayed about it?” Once I’m done grumbling, I realize she’s right.
The priority of prayer prepares our heart.
As we make prayer the priority in our lives, we are changed
Prayer is important.
Prayer is important.
I find it interesting that the disciples’ attitudes were not about finding something to DO but in finding somewhere to PRAY
They ‘devoted’ themselves to prayer.
Prayer wasn’t a thing - it was THE thing.
Praying preceded Doing.
They were praying though the Holy Spirit was already promised. The prayer was not to make the promise happen — that wouldn’t see God as trustworthy. The prayer was to prepare their hearts for WHEN the promise happened.
What
ILLUST -Being devoted to prayer works. A man in our congregation has been praying for his neighbor for many years. It has been on the prayer list for our Wednesday prayer gatherings for a long time. This week this man trusted in Jesus as his Savior.
Prayer brings unity.
Prayer brings unity.
‘with one accord,’ ‘together’
means “of one mind”
The result of prayer is that it becomes unifying.
When we make prayer the priority, we’ll find ourselves in unity.
we stop looking for ‘your way’ or ‘my way’ as we pray together for ‘God’s way.’
stop arguing individually for ‘your way’ and start praying together for Jesus’ way.
Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
EX - In marriage, stop waiting for your spouse to submit TO you. Ask you spouse to pray WITH you as you both submit to what Jesus would want.
We don’t need to be unified before we can pray. We pray and the result is we are unified.
Application
PREPARE with prayer. Don’t RESORT to prayer.
**Stop and pray**
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 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. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 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.) 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’;
and
“ ‘Let another take his office.’
Explanation
Acts 1:15-
‘Peter stood up’
Peter is the leader
we hear from Peter a lot not only because he seems to have a big mouth, but because he was a leader among the disciples.
He is listed first every time disciples are listed in the gospels (, Mark 3, )
‘company of persons. . . 120’
According to Jewish law there needed to be one leader for every ten members for a Sanhedrin — ruling council. The Mishnah (Jewish interpretation of the Law) stated a minimum of 120 Jewish men were needed to establish a new community - the disciples were forming a new community.
‘Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled,’
I love that Peter points to Scripture
He didn’t say, ‘I knew Judas was a rat’
Godly leaders don’t point people to themselves, they point people to God.
The Bible speaks truth.
The Authority of the Bible (15-20)
The Authority of the Bible (15-20)
(10 min)
Godly leaders look to and follow Scripture.
The Bible told the truth.
The Bible told the truth.
The apostles, specifically Peter, recognizes the authority of Scripture because of fulfilled prophecy.
points to two Psalms - 69 and 109
Believed the Psalms predicted Judas’ betrayal
18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 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.)
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 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. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 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.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
says that Judas died by hanging himself;
This passage says, however, that he fell down off a cliff and his bowels burst out...
Matthew says that the money Judas earned for betraying Jesus he threw back into the temple and the Jewish authorities used it to buy a field...3
But when Peter retells the story here in Acts he says that Judas bought a field with the 30 pieces of silver... Did Judas buy the field or did he throw the money back
o Ha, clear contradictions? o Well, not necessarily.
When you hang yourself, if your body stays that way for a long time, the body swells up and eventually the branch broke and he fell down and his abdomen ruptured and his guts spilled out... Or maybe the branch overlooked a small cliff.
§ When you hang yourself, if your body stays that way for a long time, the body swells up and eventually the branch broke and he fell down and his abdomen ruptured and his guts spilled out... Or maybe the branch overlooked a small cliff.
With the money situation, one writer says he threw it back and another says he “bought a field” with it... what probably happened is that Judas threw the money back and the Jewish authorities bought the field with it, and when Peter tells the story in Acts he just shortened it to say, “Judas bought the field”
§ With the money situation, one writer says he threw it back and another says he “bought a field” with it... what probably happened is that Judas threw the money back and the Jewish authorities bought the field with it, and when Peter tells the story in Acts he just shortened it to say, “Judas bought the field”
since the money he had earned from selling
Jesus was used for that purpose...
• Now, that’s just one resolution of a supposed contradiction,
but I’ve looked at these supposed contradictions for years now... Almost always there is a plausible way to resolve it.
at the time of its writing, approx 25% of OT was prophecy
The apostles saw the majority of the OT prophecy as pointing toward Jesus.
-45
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that 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 the Scriptures,
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
Scholars say there are over 300 specific prophecies relating to the person and character of the Messiah — all of which are fulfilled in Jesus.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
ILLUSTR - just 8 correct fulfilled prophecies = one hundred million billion. It would be like marking one silver dollar then covering Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and West Virginia two feet deep in silver dollars, dropping in a blindfolded person, have them bend down and pick the marked silver dollar.
Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and West Virginia
The Bible tells the truth.
The Bible tells the truth.
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.
The Holy Spirit or David?
2 Peter 1:21
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Dual authorship of the Bible
ILLUSTR - Child taking first steps
Verbal Plenary Inspiration
verbal = words in autographa are inspired not just concepts
Illustration
plenary = the whole of Scripture
Inspiration = God’s words not man’s words
Application
What role does the Bible play in your life?
Religious prop
Story book
Self-help manual
LIFE
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Psalms say about Scripture:
Perfect (19:7)
Pure (19:8)
Worth more than gold (19:10)
Silver (12:6)
Sweeter than honey (19:10)
Light (119:105)
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Sword (, Hebrew )
Do you sit over the Word or under it?
Explanation
‘ one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time. . . ‘
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. 24 And they prayed and 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.
Acts
There had been twelve and there needed to be twelve
corresponded to the twelve tribes of Israel
The authority of apostles and what they had to say lies int he fact that they were with Jesus.
They understood their mission was to ‘be witnesses’ so they needed someone whose life had been changed by Jesus.
They didn’t search with someone who help them raise money or set up strategic marketing for this new church.
The New Testament is based on the lives of men who had been with Jesus.
‘They put forward two’
23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
We don’t know much about Matthias after this
‘They cast lots’
Usually stones or pebbles, sometimes sticks or arrows
chance
removes partiality
used in divination
In OT but don’t see after the Holy Spirit given
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
but its every decision is from the Lord.
Though the act of casting lots is strange to us, it underscores their trust that God was directing the course of events.
What we would say they left to ‘chance’ they would say they left to the Lord. To us, it seems they had no control over who would turn up with the casting of the lots, but maybe that is the point! The apostles had a strong sense of God’s sovereignty in human affairs.
They did their diligence and left the results to God because they trusted in the authority of God over the universe and even their lives.
The Sovereignty of Jesus (21-26)
The Sovereignty of Jesus (21-26)
(10 min)
24 And they prayed and 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
They short list out of 120 down to 2 men. Neither of these choices is wrong - is a sin.
Jesus was, is, and always will be sovereign.
Jesus was, is, and always will be sovereign.
Though the act of casting lots is strange to us, it underscores their trust that God was directing the course of events.
What we would say they left to ‘chance’ they would say they left to the Lord. To us, it seems they had no control over who would turn up with the casting of the lots, but maybe that is the point! The apostles had a strong sense of God’s sovereignty in human affairs.
They did their diligence and left the results to God because they trusted in the authority of God over the universe and even their lives.
Application
What we would say they left to ‘chance’ they would say they left to the Lord. To us, it seems they had no control over who would turn up with the casting of the lots, but maybe that is the point! The apostles had a strong sense of God’s sovereignty in human affairs.
How much of your life can you leave to Jesus? Do you really believe that Jesus is so completely sovereign over world affairs and so concerned with your affairs that if you rolled the dice he would change the outcome?
Jesus
If not, do you really believe he is sovereign? If not, what do you need to get together, pray about, and hand over?
ILLUST - redirection from LBC
Conclusion
Conclusion
(5 min)
Judas and Peter
2 different authorities.
(relied heavily on Mark Driscoll for this last section)
Who’s the person speaking in ? It’s Peter.
Who’s he talking about? Judas.
had Jesus as their leader
had the same community
had the same mission
both failed Jesus
Judas betrayed, Peter denied
They both failed Jesus - the difference between the two was how they responded to it.
They each had a different authority in their lives.
Judas never really believed in Jesus.
Thief and liar
Peter trusted in Jesus.
When confronted with the
Judas took his sin to the grave and found hell, Peter gave his sin to Jesus and found forgiveness.
Maybe you know you’ve been living in a way that is not in line with what the Bible says. You’re rebelling against the authority of Scripture. You’ve justified it, denied it, pushed it aside and pushed it down. But now, the same Spirit that inspired the Scriptures is pointing it out to you.
There is life in following the Bible’s authority.