What Are You Waiting For?
CHRISTIAN WAITING IS ACTIVE NOT PASSIVE.
3 Things to do while we wait:
01. PRAY & OBEY
vv.12-14 “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 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. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
They returned to Jerusalem This was notable obedience.
His brothers of Jesus never seemed to be supportive of His ministry before His death and resurrection (John 7:5, Mark 3:21). After encountering the resurrected Jesus, they were changed into true followers of Jesus.
These all continued with one accord This is notable unity.
supplication is a sense of desperation and earnestness in prayer.
02. READ & APPLY
vv.15-20 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “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. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (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. 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.) “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.’
Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples Here, Peter took a natural leadership role among the disciples. However, the idea that the authority of Peter was supreme and that he handed it down in unbroken succession as taught in catholicism, is unbiblical and wrong.
the Scripture had to be fulfilled The apostles understood that Jesus’ ministry and the events surrounding
Psalm 69:25 (“Let his habitation become desolate”) reveals the judgment that fell on Judas as the covenant traitor, while Psalm 109:8 (“Let another take his office”) explains why his apostolic role had to be given to another—David’s laments becoming typological previews of Judas’s downfall and replacement.
“David Christology” throughout acts
Carson “What he did conformed to a pattern revealed in certain OT texts, but he was not a puppet: Judas fell away because of his own deliberate wickedness or unrighteousness”
Mission Story: Scripture Fulfilled→ And that includes
Most of us don’t have a truth problem, we have a trust problem.
→ Reliance upon God’s Word
You can trust God’s Word.
When there’s a gap in your understanding, do you look to Scripture?
When there’s a gap in your leadership, team, situation, season, parenting: do you turn to Scripture?
Fulfilled Scripture
Temptation not to trust
Apparent contradiction:
Matthew 27:5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.
Solution: When his body fell his bowls gushed out.
03. RELY & TESTIFY
vv.21-26 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 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.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
12 Correlates to Israel
And they cast their lots this was notable reliance on God.
Casting lots Last example before the fullness of the Holy Spirit arrived
The key here is they’re prayer and seeking God’s will. show which one of these two you have chosen
a witness…of His resurrection sanctified common sense We need another witness.
The disciples obeyed.
The disciples were in unity.
The disciples were in prayer.
The disciples were in the Scriptures.
The disciples wanted to apply God’s will.
The disciples used sanctified common sense.
The disciples relied on God.
The disciples took testifying seriously.
People see our ministry and all they see is the speed and instantaneous growth. All people back home New of my story in Oregon was the long years. I’ve been waiting in a warehouse to even get the chance to serve the Lord in the ways. I’m serving him now. All my wife sees is me chained to the grinder, waiting for the Lord to give me breakthrough.
Suddenly… Gradually
The ‘gradually’ prepares you for ‘suddenly’.